Network structure–property relationship in UV-cured organic/inorganic hybrid nanocomposites

The UV-induced cross-linked network structures of methacryl-oligosiloxane nanoclusters (MONCs) were analyzed with a hydrofluoric acid dissolution derived gel permeation chromatography technique (HF-GPC) to study their network structure–property relationships. With this method the oligosiloxane cores were dissolved in HF and the remaining organic tethers underwent GPC analysis to observe the tether species and characterize the original cross-linked network structures. It was found that the MONC nanocomposites have a highly cross-linked structure, resulting in oligosiloxane cores which are completely isolated by short methacryl chain segments (two- or three-armed methacryl tethers). This structural analysis was found to be consistent with the macroscale properties of MONC nanocomposites when characterized with thermal (TGA) and thermo-mechanical (DMA and TMA) analyses.