Spectroscopic characterization of GPTMS/DETA and GPTMS/EDA hybrid polymers

Silica/epoxy hybrid polymers were synthesized from 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) by hydrolysis of the silane functional groups at a range of pHs and water contents of the reaction mixtures, followed by crosslinking by ring opening of the epoxy groups using diethylenetriamine (DETA) or ethylenediamine (EDA). The GPTMS/DETA and GPTMS/EDA hybrid polymers were formed to an extent determined by the mole ratio of active hydrogens from the diamine to epoxy rings (RH). Structural characterization of the hybrid polymers was performed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Raman, and 13C and 29Si Solid-State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopies. The results showed that extensive crosslinking occurred for GPTMS/DETA and GPTMS/EDA rigid, homogeneous hybrids with RH = 1, particularly at pH 10.