HYBRID ORGANIC-INORGANIC INTERPENETRATING NETWORKS

A new class of interpenetrating networks (IPNs) has been synthesized by swelling a sol-gel-derived, poly(tetramethylene oxide)/silica hybrid composite with either methacrylic acid, cyclohexyl methacrylate, or N-vinylpyrrolidone. The monomer-swollen network is then gamma-polymerized in-situ. The resulting composites are optically transparent and exhibit significantly different mechanical properties than the original organic-inorganic hybrid. In particular, a 3000% increase in the elastic modulus for the methacrylic acid derived IPN is observed. Similarly, hydrogel-like behavior is also observable, including preferential pH absorption.