| Abstract: | Interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) of polyurethane (PU) and maleimide-terminated polyurethane (UBMI) were prepared by using a simultaneous polymerization technique. The effects of the UBMI molecular weight and amounts of the UBMI in the IPNs on the mechanical properties, dynamic mechanical properties, degree of compatibility, water absorption, surface properties and dynamic thrombosis were investigated. Bulk structure and surface properties were analyzed in order to correlate their blood compatibility. The IPNs exhibited a higher ultimate tensile strength especially when the UBMI with short soft chains was introduced. The heterogeneous characteristics were found for the IPNs when longer soft segment chains were incorporated in the PU component polymer. The presence of hydrophilic/hydrophobic alternative microdomains on the IPN surface was proposed to be the reason for good blood compatibility. The degree of compatibility, compositions of each domain and content of each domain in the matrix were calculated and correlated with the blood compatibility. |
