Study of poly(methyl methacrylate-maleic anhydride)/silica hybrid materials

Poly(methyl methacrylate-maleic anhydride) [P(MMA-MAn)] with active groups, anhydrides, was synthesized by radical copolymerization. Using P(MMA-MAn) as a basic polymer, the P(MMA-MAn)/SiO2 hybrid materials were obtained by a sol-gel process in different ways. The structures of the materials were ch aracterized by IR spectra, and their properties were studied by thermogravi metric analysis (TGA), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and dynamic analy sis (DA). The results show that the hybrids prepared in different ways have different properties, and the contents of SiO2 also have influence on the properties of the hybrids. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.