Mechanical and thermal properties of organic/inorganic hybrid coatings

Two types of organic/inorganic hybrid coatings were produced by the sol-gel route from (a) 80% tetra-ethoxy-silane (TEOS) and 20% glycidoxypropyl-trimethoxy-silane (GPTMS) and (b) GPTMS with varying amounts of diethylene-triamine (DETA). Residual stress was measured from substrate curvature and modulus and hardness were studied using nano-indentation. Coatings derived from 80TEOS/20GPTMS are relatively stiff and brittle. Tensile residual stress, elastic modulus and hardness all increase as the curing temperature is increased to 350degreesC. The organic components are not crosslinked and act as network modifiers. Coatings derived from GPTMS/DETA are less stiff and softer. Increasing the DETA content increases both E and H by increasing the connectivity of the organic network which dominates the mechanical properties. Thermal degradation begins at about 250degreesC in all cases, but is retarded when the connectivity of the organic network is high.