화학공학소재연구정보센터
Journal of Membrane Science, Vol.146, No.1, 83-93, 1998
Fabrication and characteristics of polyHEMA artificial skin with improved tensile properties
PolyHEMA-based hydrogel synthesized by the W-radiation induced polymerization technique is used to prepare the strength-proved artificial skin in order to improve the handling procedure for curing the burned wound. The tensile strength of the artificial skin membrane is measured following the ASTM standard. The strength decreases with increasing amount of the initial water added to the mixture of HEMA (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) cross linker and benzoin isobutyl ether (BIE) initiator. The maximum strength of the artificial skin membrane reaches 9 kg/cm(2), as the hydrogel contains equilibrium water around 30 wt%. The artificial skin so fabricated presents several additional characteristics including good wettability, complete transparency and dimensional change during water absorption and evaporation.