Effects of inorganic components on the mechanical properties of inorganic-organic hybrids synthesized from metal alkoxides and polydimethylsiloxane

Inorganic-organic hybrids (M–O–PDMS hybrids) have been synthesized from silanolterminated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and inorganic sources of Al(O–sec–C₄H₉)₃, Ti(OC₂H₅)₄, and Ta(OC₂H₅)₅. The molar ratio of M(OR)_n/PDMS and the inorganic component derived from the different metal alkoxides were found to influence the structure and mechanical properties of the hybrids. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements showed that the interaction between the inorganic component and PDMS increased in the order Al–O–PDMS < Ta–O–PDMS < Ti–O–PDMS hybrid. The stress-strain experiments revealed that the mechanical properties of the M–O–PDMS hybrids differed by the inorganic component, reflecting the network structure and strength of the interaction between the inorganic component and PDMS.