Hydrogel preparations using poly(N-vinylformamide) (PNVF) and poly(N-vinylacetamide) (PNVA), which are composed of non-conjugated vinyl monomers, N-vinylformamide (NVF) and N-vinylacetamide (NVA), were investigated without chemical crosslinkers. Hydrogen bonding interaction between the polymers and poly(ethylene glycol) have been firstly attempted to result in unstable film, which is easily soluble in water. On the other hand, the simple thermal treatment of the PNVF films at 200 °C for several hours produced the hydrogels after water immersion, although PNVA did not produce any hydrogels under the same condition. The swelling ratios of the formed hydrogel ranged from 100 to 250. The analysis of the supernatant reveals the structural change at alpha proton of PNVF. Furthermore, the decrease of molecular weights were observed by SEC analysis when the hydrogels formed. The possible mechanism of the crosslinking reaction is also discussed. The present study provides the novel method to prepare PNVF hydrogels without the use of chemical crosslinkers.
Keywords: Hydrogel; N-Vinylformamide; N-Vinylacetamide; Thermal Treatment; Crosslinking.