Review article

Epoxy-silica organic-inorganic hybrid materials

Jelena MACAN ; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Zagreb

Abstract

Organic-inorganic hybrid materials are a new class of nanostructured materials, which unite the properties of both their constitutive phases. The polymer matrix hybrid materials can also be considered as nanocomposites where filler is formed inside the matrix, which significantly improves the interphase contact. This paper gives an overview of the hybrid materials based on epoxy resin with silica filler formed by in situ sol-gel process. The morphology of the inorganic phase depends on hydrolysis of alkoxides and the presence of crosslinked polymeric phase, and in most cases an interpenetrated organic-inorganic network is formed. Uncrosslinked organic phase does not influence sol-gel reaction of the inorganic phase, and unhydrolysed alkoxides do not influence the reactions of epoxy groups. The presence of covalent bonding between the phases improves the properties of hybrid materials, and all hybrids show improved thermal stability in comparison with unmodified resin. The increase of inorganic phase content above the optimal one does not improve, or even deteriorates the mechanical properties of the hybrids.

Keywords

epoxy resin; nanocomposites; organic-inorganic hybrid materials; sol-gel process

Hrčak ID:

18960

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/18960

Publication date:

7.1.2008.

Article data in other languages: croatian

Visits: 2.333 *