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Enhancing the hydrophilicity of silicone polymers

  • US 5,397,848 A
  • Filed: 05/21/1993
  • Issued: 03/14/1995
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1991
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for incorporating a hydrophilic component into a silicone polymer material which comprises:

  • introducing a hydrophilic component into a silicone polymeric material selected from the group consisting of cross-linked silicone polymeric materials and solid silicone polymer materials, said hydrophilic component including a hydrophilic portion and a silicone polymer portion; and

    subjecting said hydrophilic component and said silicone polymeric material to conditions effective to physically immobilize at least a portion of said hydrophilic component and form a silicone polymer material which is optically clear and includes said hydrophilic component physically immobilized in and distributed throughout said silicone polymer material in an amount effective to provide increased hydrophilicity to said silicone polymer material relative to a substantially identical polymer material without said hydrophilic component, provided said subjecting is ineffective to increase or decrease the degree of polymerization or the degree of cross-linking of said silicone polymeric material, and said silicone polymer material is utilized without further substantial polymerization or cross-linking.

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