STAR GELS - NEW HYBRID NETWORK MATERIALS FROM POLYFUNCTIONAL SINGLE-COMPONENT PRECURSORS

Citation
Kg. Sharp et Mj. Michalczyk, STAR GELS - NEW HYBRID NETWORK MATERIALS FROM POLYFUNCTIONAL SINGLE-COMPONENT PRECURSORS, JOURNAL OF SOL-GEL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, 8(1-3), 1997, pp. 541-546
Citations number
18
Categorie Soggetti
Material Science
ISSN journal
09280707
Volume
8
Issue
1-3
Year of publication
1997
Pages
541 - 546
Database
ISI
SICI code
0928-0707(1997)8:1-3<541:SG-NHN>2.0.ZU;2-W
Abstract
New molecular precursors to inorganic/organic hybrid network materials have been designed and synthesized. The molecules comprise multiple t rialkoxysilane-terminated arms linked to an organic core. When hydroly zed, these materials form network structures whose network elements ar e interconnected with flexible crosslinks. Clear, compliant glasses an d thick films have been generated from a number of these precursors. T hey are significantly tougher and less brittle than purely inorganic g lasses or conventional purely organic thermosetting materials such as epoxy resins. The gels typically lose all surface-connected porosity d uring drying. Gelation rates for pure ''star gel'' precursors can be e xtremely high; the stars can also greatly enhance condensation rates f or conventional sol-gel systems based on tetraalkoxysilanes.