Thermoplastic elastomer hydrogels

US10428185B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION · US
• The Regents of the University of Colorado, a Body Corporate · US

Inventors

• Travis S. Bailey · Fort Collins, US
• Chen Guo · Newark, US
• Jackson T. Lewis · Fort Collins, US
• Kristine Fischenich · Fort Collins, US
• Tammy Haut Donahue · Fort Collins, US
• Dilanji Wijayasekara · Fort Collins, US
• Matthew G. Cowan · Dunedin, NZ
• Douglas L. Gin · Longmont, US
• Richard D. Noble · Boulder, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 5, 2016
• Grant date: Oct 1, 2019
• Expiry date: Dec 5, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E60/10
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Provided herein is a block copolymer hydrogel, comprising a glass formed from a dry blend of polystyrene-poly(ethylene oxide) diblock copolymer (SO) and polystyrene-poly(ethylene oxide)-polystyrene triblock copolymer (SOS) in a molar ratio from between 95:5 and 1:99 SO/SOS and a liquid medium at a concentration between about 32:1 and about 2:1 liquid medium/SO—SOS by weight. The block copolymer hydrogel has a fatigue resistance to at least 500,000 compression cycles. Also provided are methods for forming the hydrogel.