HYBRIDS OF SIO2 AND POLY(AMIDE 6-B-ETHYLENE OXIDE)

Hybrids of poly(amide-6-b-ethylene oxide), Pebax(R), and silica were p repared by using a sol-gel process. The inorganic phase was grown by h ydrolysis-condensation of tetraethoxysilane, TEOS, by acid catalysis, in presence of Pebax/n-butanol or Pebax/formic acid:tetrahydrofuran (1 :1 w/w). Pebax/silica hybrids, with different compositions, were obtai ned and characterized by stress-strain tests, dynamic-mechanical analy sis, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron and scanning electron mi croscopy. The effect of the preparation conditions on the hybrid prope rties is discussed. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.