Polymer with upper critical solution temperature

Abstract

Aspects generally relate to a temperature responsive polymer, more specifically to a polymer exhibiting an upper critical solution temperature (UCST) in an aqueous solution. In one aspect, a monomer compound includes one or more amide or thioamide groups; one or more ureido or thioureido groups; and one or more ethylenically unsaturated groups. In one aspect, a polymer, such as a homopolymer or a copolymer, is produced by polymerization of the monomer compound. The copolymer is produced by polymerization of the monomer compound and a comonomer, such as a hydrophobic comonomer, a hydrophilic comonomer, a pH responsive comonomer, a light responsive comonomer, and combinations thereof. The polymer exhibits a UCST from about 1° C. to about 100° C. in an aqueous solution at 1 atm.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.