IMPROVED PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING HYDROGELS

摘要

An improved method of making a PAN copolymer is provided which includes providing a first reaction mixture including polyacrylonitrile dissolved in an aqueous solution containing a thiocyanate salt; providing a second reaction mixture including a metal catalyst dissolved in an aqueous reactive solvent; mixing the first and second reaction mixtures in a container to form a master reaction mixture; heating the master reaction mixture via a heating element to maintain a predetermined reaction temperature range for a time sufficient for completion of a predetermined level of hydrolysis of polyacrylonitrile, wherein the reaction temperature (T_r) is represented by the formula T_r = T_a + T_e wherein T_a is the temperature resulting from the amount of added heat and T_e is the temperature increase from the heat generated by the exothermic reaction.