Spectroscopic and thermogravimetric studies of homogeneous materials from PU/PMMA/SiO2

Abstract

Polymers of organic-inorganic origin are incompatible by nature and a proposal to solve this behavior is the formation of Interpenetrated Polymeric Networks (IPN) using coupling agents. Coupling agents make it possible to create a crosslinking between the phases present that provides better mechanical, optical and thermal properties. These materials are known as Hybrid Networks. To obtain optically transparent materials, individual networks of Polyurethane (PU), Methyl Polyacrylate (PMMA) and Silica (SiO2) were used. Binary and ternary networks were synthesized using bulk polymerization incorporating SiO2 up to 10% by weight. In this research, coupling agents such as Trimethoxysilyl Propyl Methacrylate (MSMA) and Isocyanotopropyl Triethoxy Silane (IPTS) were introduced to the ternary networks in order to reduce the phase separation that occurs in these systems. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) studies demonstrated the presence of functional groups of binary and ternary networks. On the other hand, the thermogravimetric tests (TGA) carried out on hybrid IPN´s with coupling agents, presented greater thermal stability and better optical properties, providing the new IPN´s with the opportunity to have promising applications.