Amphiphilic polymer conetworks APCNs

This chapter aims also to cover a related topic, that of less-perfect-than-model, albeit functional, conetworks. These materials exhibit some control in their stmcture but are not defect-free. Furthermore, they comprise polymer segments or blocks of two different monomers. This arrangement may lead to microphase separation either in the bulk or in selective solvents. Most reports concern studies of amphiphilic conetworks (APCNs) in water, which are systems combining the properties of surfactants and hydrogels. Hius, these materials swell in water, but less so than purely hydrophilic gels. Moreover, they self-assemble to form miceUe-like hydrophobic cores however, this takes place under the constraints of the conetwork aoss-links. 

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