Synthesis, characterization and investigation of catalytic properties of hydrogels of 2(Diethylamino)ethyl acrylate

In this study, both homopolymer and copolymer hydrogels with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) of 2-(diethylamino) ethyl acrylate (DEAEA) were synthesized for using as catalyst instead of triethyl amine (TEA). Both hydrogels were synthesized using ammonium persulfate (APS) as the initiator and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as crosslinker at 70˚C. The structure of hydrogels were clarified by FTIR method and thermal behavior was determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) method. In addition, swelling behavior of hydrogel in water was investigated and kinetic parameters were calculated. The catalytic properties of hydrogels were investigated in comparison with TEA in the urethane formation reaction by bulk and heterogeneous solution polymerization techniques. In catalytic studies performed by bulk polymerization technique, the effect of hydrogel content and particle size on catalytic properties were investigated. In the studies, the highest temperature reached in the reaction, the volume of the product formed, the duration and yield of the reaction were followed. The kinetics of the urethane formation reaction was studied by heterogeneous solution polymerization and both the order and the rate constant of the reaction were determined. As a result of the study, it was understood that both hydrogels could be used as heterogeneous catalyst in urethane formation reaction and hydrogels were more effective than TEA in some parametres.