PHEMA (poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)) is a hydrophilic synthetic polymer widely used in biomedical and ophthalmic applications due to its water-absorbing capability and biocompatibility. The material is valued in contact lenses, artificial corneas, and soft tissue scaffolds where its hydrogel properties enable oxygen permeability and gentle interaction with biological tissues. Engineers select PHEMA for applications requiring a balance between mechanical flexibility and rigidity—particularly in wet environments where other polymers would degrade or lose functionality.
Compliance & Regulations
| Property | Value | Unit | Conditions | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Compressive Strength(σc) | 4.305 | MPa | — | ||
Elongation at Break(εf) | 173.8 | - | — | ||
Hardness (Vickers)(HV) | 400 | HV | — | ||
Ultimate Tensile Strength(σUTS) | 974.3 | kPa | — | ||
Young's Modulus(E) | 48.70 | MPa | — |
| Property | Value | Unit | Conditions | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Glass Transition Temperature(Tg) | 360.5 | K | — | ||
Melting Point / Solidus(Tm) | 438.2 | K | — | ||
Maximum Service Temperature(Tmax) | 565.6 | K | — | ||
Thermal Conductivity(k) | 0.3300 | W/(m·K) | — |
| Property | Value | Unit | Conditions | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Refractive Index(n) | 1.504 | - | — |