Hydrogel reinforcement using expanded articles and hydrogel-expanded article composites
AssigneeW. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
InventorsJared S. Archer, Matthew I. Converse, Alexander T. Leonard, Jackson T. Lewis, Theresa K. Tonge
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Abstract
A reinforced hydrogel composite including a porous synthetic or naturally derived retracted membrane material having a void volume, and a hydrogel at least partially filling the void volume; wherein the composite has a low strain (<50%) modulus from about 0.01 to about 10 MPa and a toughness from about 104 to about 107 J·m3. Methods for making the reinforced hydrogel composite and articles containing the reinforced hydrogel composite are also provided.
Claims32
A reinforced hydrogel composite comprising:
- a porous synthetic or naturally derived retracted membrane material having a void volume, and a hydrogel at least partially filling the void volume;
- wherein the composite has a low strain (<50%) modulus from about 0.01 to about 10 MPa and a toughness from about 104 to about 107 J·m3.
A method of preparing a reinforced hydrogel composite comprising:
- i) providing a synthetic or naturally derived polymer membrane compressed in at least one direction, said polymer membrane having a node and fibril microstructure and a void volume;
- ii) optionally pre-treating the polymer membrane;
- iii) filling at least partially the void volume with a hydrogel precursor;
- and
- iv) polymerizing the hydrogel precursor to produce the reinforced hydrogel composite which comprises a hydrogel embedded in the polymer membrane;
- wherein the composite has low strain (<50%) modulus from about 0.01 to about 10 MPa and a toughness of from about 104 to about 107 J·m3.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.