Preparation and characterization of polyhydroxyurethane/silica nanocomposites via in situ surface‐initiated polymerization

Abstract The polyhydroxyurethane/silica nanocomposite (PHU/SN) was prepared by the in situ surface‐initiated polymerization of a five‐membered cyclic carbonate, 2,2‐bis[p‐(1,3‐dioxolan‐2‐one‐4‐yl‐methoxy)phenyl]propane (B5CC) and hexamethylene diamine, from the surfaces of the aminopropyl silica nanoparticles (APSN) for the first time. The percentage of grafting (PG%) and the grafting efficiency (GE%) of 27% and 19% were calculated from the results of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively, after the free polyhydroxyurethane was washed off. The chemical grafting of the polymer was also confirmed using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and the morphology of the silica nanoparticles in the nanocomposite was characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM). POLYM. COMPOS., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers