Poly(2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate-Bis[Trimethoxysilylpropyl]Amine) Hybrid Networks

In this paper, our goal is to improve the understanding of structural control of hybrid materials synthesized by using acid-catalyzed sol–gel reactions of bis-[trimethoxysilylpropyl]amine (BisSi) and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) via free radical in a common solvent. Polymer networks compositions were determined by FTIR and 1H-NMR spectroscopy. The thermal properties of the P(HEMA-BisSi) hybrids with different silica content (e.g. 10, 15 and 25 wt%) were determined by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. Glass transition temperatures (Tg´s) of P(HEMA-BisSi) networks were also compared with Tg of PHEMA homopolymer. The Tg´ of PHEMA homopolymer was found as 103.74 °C. The thermal stability of these networks was increased with the BisSi content. Scanning electron microscopy images showed that an increase in acid content caused a decrease in the pore size and pore volume as well as in the surface area of the xerogel.