Water-insoluble hydrophilic copolymers

A water-insoluble hydrophilic gel comprising the crosslinked copolymerization product of

• (A) about 30 to about 90% by weight of said gel of (a) a water-soluble monoolefinic monomer, or mixture of said monomers, or (b) a water-soluble monomer, or mixture of said monomers, with 1 to 50% by weight of total monomers of a water-insoluble monoolefinic monomer, or mixture of said water-insoluble monomers, with
• (B) about 10 to about 70% by weight of said gel of a terminal diolefinic hydrophobic macromer having a molecular weight from about 400 to about 8000, said macromer having the formula ##STR6## wherein R.sub.1 is a polycondensate chain having a molecular weight from about 200 to about 8000, which is the residue of a poly(propylene oxide) or poly(tetramethylene oxide) glycol having ether linkages;
• R.sub.2 is hydrogen, methyl or --CH.sub.2 COOR.sub.4, wherein R.sub.4 is hydrogen or an alkyl group with up to 10 carbon atoms;
• R.sub.3 is hydrogen or COOR.sub.4, with the proviso that at least one of R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 is hydrogen;
• X is oxa, --COO--, or --CONR.sub.5 -- is hydrogen or alkyl with up to 5 carbon atoms and Y is a direct bond or the radical --R.sub.6 --Z.sub.1 --CO--NH--R.sub.7 --NH--CO--Z.sub.2 --, wherein R.sub.6 is linked to X and represents branched or linear alkylene with up to 7 carbon atoms;
• Z.sub.1 and Z.sub.2 is oxa or NR.sub.5 and R.sub.7 is the diradical of an aliphatic or aromatic diisocyanate, with the proviso that in case X is oxa, Y is different from a direct bond, and R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are hydrogen.