Novel polymer monolith prepared from a water‐soluble crosslinking agent

In this study, we described the fundamental properties of novel polymer monoliths that were prepared from a water‐soluble crosslinking agent. Each monolith was evaluated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and scanning probe microscope (SPM) to observe the monolithic structure, and the polymer films that were prepared from several monomers were evaluated by the contact angle of water. As results of evaluations, the polymer prepared from a water‐soluble crosslinking agent had high hydrophilicity. Furthermore, SEM evaluations suggested that polymer porogenic solvent (PEG) was contributed to the construction of monolithic structure, and the polymerization degree of PEG was also taken effect of the structural changing by the variation of phase separation. Additionally, the results of SPM evaluations and the differences of monolithic structure were also reflected under water condition although the swelling of polymer was observed. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3811–3817, 2007