Low friction hydrogel having straight chain polymers and method for preparation thereof

Abstract

A low friction hydrogel, wherein a linear chain polymer is admixed with or graft-polymerized to a polymer gel; and a method for preparing the hydrogel. The hydrogel exhibits improved low friction property over a conventional material.

1 . A low friction hydrogel, wherein a linear chain polymer is admixed with or graft-polymerized to a polymer gel.  
     
     
         2 . The low friction hydrogel according to  claim 1 , wherein the linear chain polymer is graft-polymerized on a surface of the polymer gel.  
     
     
         3 . The low friction hydrogel according to claims  1  or  2 , wherein monomers constituting the polymer gel and monomers constituting the linear chain polymer are the same kind of monomers.  
     
     
         4 . The low friction hydrogel according to any one of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the frictional coefficient is not more than 0.01.  
     
     
         5 . The low friction hydrogel according to any one of  claims 1  to  4 , wherein the content ratio of the linear chain polymer relative to the total weight of the low friction hydrogel is 2-300 wt. %.  
     
     
         6 . The low friction hydrogel according to any one of  claims 1  to  5 , wherein the polymer gel is an ionic gel.  
     
     
         7 . Use of the low friction hydrogel according to  claim 6  on surfaces of a solid and a biological tissue.  
     
     
         8 . A method for preparing the low friction hydrogel, wherein the linear chain polymer or monomers forming the linear chain polymer is admixed with and/or graft-polymerized to a polymer gel or monomers forming the polymer gel.  
     
     
         9 . The method for preparing the low friction hydrogel according to  claim 8 , wherein the linear chain polymer is admixed with and then graft-polymerized to the polymer gel.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein one or more species of monomers to form the linear chain polymer are admixed with and polymerized to the polymer gel, so as to involve the linear chain polymer into the polymer gel.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the linear chain polymer are admixed with and polymerized with one or more species of monomers forming the polymer gel, so as to involve the linear chain polymer into the polymer gel.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein one or more species of monomers forming the polymer gel and one or more species of monomers forming the linear chain polymer are admixed and polymerized, so as to graft the linear chain polymer to the polymer gel.  
     
     
         13 . The low friction hydrogel according to any one of  claims 8  to  12 , wherein monomers forming the polymer gel and monomers forming the linear chain polymer are the same type of monomers.  
     
     
         14 . The method for preparing the low friction hydrogel, wherein monomers forming the polymer gel are polymerized on a hydrophobic substrate.