U.S.-Bulgaria Polymer Research on Properties of Hydrogels with Hydrophobic Cross-Link

美国-保加利亚研究项目的主要目标是纽约州立大学环境科学与林业学院的Johannes Smid博士和保加利亚科学院聚合物研究所的Christo Tsvetanov博士，以聚乙烯氧化物（PEO）为基材的亲/疏水聚合物凝胶的合成与评价。本项目的主要目标是：1)合成并表征含疏水位点的聚氧乙烯水凝胶网络；2)研究温度、盐和表面活性剂添加剂对凝胶溶胀行为的影响；3)建立凝胶的结合特性；4)探索水凝胶的潜在应用。研究人员关心的是如何理解从聚氧乙烯中提取的材料。他们的努力应该会产生关于含有环氧乙烷部分的化合物的信息。这些信息应该对理解与环氧聚乙烯及其许多衍生物有关的问题作出重要贡献，包括线性和网状聚合物，以及嵌段和接枝共聚物。这个聚合物研究项目实现了推进科学知识的计划目标，使美国和东欧的领先专家能够结合互补的人才，并在共同感兴趣和有能力的领域汇集研究资源。

The primary objective of this US-Bulgarian research project between Dr. Johannes Smid of the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry and Dr. Christo Tsvetanov of the Institute of Polymers, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, is to synthesize and evaluate hydrophilic/hydrophobic polymer gels based on polyethyleneoxide (PEO). The main goals of this project are: 1) to synthesize and characterize hydrogel networks of polyethylene oxide containing hydrophobic sites; 2) to study the swelling behavior of gels as a function of temperature, salt and surfacant additive; 3) to establish the binding characteristics of the gels; and 4) to explore potential applications of the hydrogels. The researchers are concerned with understanding materials derived from polyethylene oxide. Their efforts should produce information regarding compounds containing the ethylene oxide moiety. Such information should be an important contribution to the understanding of problems related to polyethlene oxide and its many derivatives including linear and network polymers, and block and graft copolymers. This project in polymers research fulfills the program objective of advancing scientific knowledge by enabling leading experts in the United States and Eastern Europe to combine complementary talents and pool research resources in areas of strong mutual interest and competence.