Hybrid Organic/Inorganic Epoxy Resins Prepared by Frontal Polymerization

The syntheses of hybrid epoxy resins made from different ratios among bisphenol-A diglycidyl ether, 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS), and diethylenetriamine were successfully performed by using frontal polymerization. Conversions were always almost quantitative, and, because of the use of this alternative convenient technique, materials were prepared in very short times. Samples were characterized by DSC, TGA, IR spectroscopy, and solvent extraction. It was found that those materials containing a relatively high-Si amount exhibit two different transition temperatures, with the highest one that increases as the content of GPTMS raises. The analogies and the differences with the analogous samples prepared by the classical batch technique are discussed. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 4721-4725, 2010