Polymer sol-gel processing

Preparation method. Phase separation (phase inversion] of polymer, sol-gel process, interface reaction, stretching, extrusion, track-etching, and micro-fabrication. 

Blending is generally just mixing of the silica nanoparticles into the polymer sol-gel process can be done in situ in the presence of a preformed organic polymer or simultaneously during the pwlymerization of the monomer(s) and in situ polymerization involves the dispersion of nanosilica in the monomerfs) first and then polymerization is carried out. 

Therefore, numerous siloxane-based hybrid organic-inorganic materials have been developed in the past few years. This development yields many interesting new materials, with improved mechanical properties timable between those of glasses and those of polymers. Sol-gel processed hybrid materials such as, optical devices, new sensors and biosensors, new catalysts or membranes have been reported to have high efficiencly, good selectivity and stability (Lebeau, 1999). 

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