UV-Curable organic-inorganic hybrid films based on tetraethylorthosilicate oligomer and special acrylated polyester

Organic-inorganic hybrid films were prepared using tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) oligomer and special acrylated polyester (SAP) via a UV-curing process. TEOS oligomers were prepared in the presence of water and ethanol using hydrochloric acid as the catalyst and characterized using 1H NMR, 29Si NMR and MALDI-TOF mass spectra. Special acrylated polyester was synthesized by 1,4-cyclohexane dimethanol, neopentyl glycol, 1,4-butanediol, maleic anhydride, adipic acid, and acrylic acid. Hybrid films were cured by UV light and the thermal properties, dynamic mechanical properties, and tensile properties of the hybrid films were evaluated as the function of TEOS oligomer content. The morphology of the hybrid films was examined using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The microscopy and dynamic mechanical data indicated that the hybrid films were heterogeneous materials with various inorganic particle sizes dispersed within the organic matrix. The results indicated that after incorporating the TEOS oligomer, the strength and thermal stability of the hybrid films were enhanced.