Mechanical properties of a hybrid-oxide glass

Abstract A sol-gel process has been successfully utilized to produced large bulk hybrid-oxide glasses from tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) or tetramethoxy silane (TMOS) incorporating polymeric components of 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate and methylmethacrylate (MMA). All samples are transparent and without porosity. The morphology of hybrid-oxide glass looks like an oriented fibers composite materials. Mechanical tests show that hybrid-oxide glasses have intermediary behaviors between brittle and plastic materials. Particularly, the plasticity at room temperature of hybrid-oxide glasses has been observed.