The multifunctional role of ionic liquids in the formation of epoxy-silica nanocomposites

0363254 - ÚMCH 2012 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Donato, Ricardo Keitel - Matějka, Libor - Schrekker, H. S. - Pleštil, Josef - Jigounov, Alexander - Brus, Jiří - Šlouf, Miroslav
The multifunctional role of ionic liquids in the formation of epoxy-silica nanocomposites.
Journal of Materials Chemistry. Roč. 21, č. 36 (2011), s. 13801-13810. ISSN 0959-9428
R&D Projects: GA AV ČR IAA400500701
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z40500505
Keywords : epoxy-silica nanocomposite * ionic liquids * sol–gel process
Subject RIV: CD - Macromolecular Chemistry
Impact factor: 5.968, year: 2011

This work addresses the use of ionic liquids (ILs) as additives for formation of epoxy-silica nanocomposites, via the simultaneous sol–gel process and epoxy network build-up. The application of different methylimidazolium based ILs allows controlling the silica structure and modifying interphase interaction, thus producing hybrids with diverse morphologies and improved mechanical properties. Both the anionic and cationic components of the ILs affected the hybrid formation and the final properties. The application of 1-decyl--methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquid together with HCl as an acid catalyst promotes both hydrolysis and condensation in the sol–gel process as well as the self-assembly ordering of the IL. This system produces a very fine hybrid morphology with well dispersed silica nanodomains and a significantly increased rubbery modulus due to physical crosslinking by the ordered domains of decyl-substituents.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0006529