(Hydroxyethyl)methacrylate
Encyclopedia
Hydroxyethylmethacrylate or HEMA is the monomer that is used to make the polymer
poly-hydroxyethylmethacrylate. The polymer is hydrophobic; however, when the polymer is subjected to water it will swell due to the molecule's hydrophilic pendant group. Depending on the physical and chemical structure of the polymer, it is capable of absorbing from 10 to 600% water
relative to the dry weight. Because of this property, it was one of the first materials to be successfully used in the manufacture of flexible contact lenses
Polymer
A polymer is a large molecule composed of repeating structural units. These subunits are typically connected by covalent chemical bonds...
poly-hydroxyethylmethacrylate. The polymer is hydrophobic; however, when the polymer is subjected to water it will swell due to the molecule's hydrophilic pendant group. Depending on the physical and chemical structure of the polymer, it is capable of absorbing from 10 to 600% water
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
relative to the dry weight. Because of this property, it was one of the first materials to be successfully used in the manufacture of flexible contact lenses