The Effect of Cross-Linking on Gas Permeability in Cross-Linked Poly(Ethylene Glycol Diacrylate)

A series of cross-linked polymers, XLPEGDA, was prepared by photopolymerizing poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) in the presence of varying amounts of water or monofunctional poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate (PEGMEA) to vary cross-link density. All of the polymers had essentially the same chemical composition but displayed a systematic variation in cross-link density as estimated from water swelling experiments, models such as the Flory−Rehner and modified Flory−Rehner theories, and dynamic mechanical testing. Cross-link density decreased with increasing water or PEGMEA content in the prepolymer solutions. Interestingly, gas solubility, diffusivity, and permeability were essentially independent of cross-link density for the series of materials prepared from PEGDA and water. The polymer density, fractional free volume, glass transition temperature, and polymer d spacing were also constant when water was used to vary cross-link density. On the basis of this result, it appears that cross-lin...