화학공학소재연구정보센터
Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics, Vol.33, No.4, 637-655, 1995
Structural Models for Homogeneous Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Materials - Simulations of Small-Angle X-Ray-Scattering Profiles
Two morphological models have been proposed to describe small-angle x-ray scattering from organic-inorganic composite (OIC) materials. The first model invokes the idea of a liquid-like arrangement among noninterpenetrating fractal clusters, and the second employs an empirical correlation function that would be expected for a bicontinuous two-phase (B2P) picture with the inorganic portion exhibiting fractal characteristics. Simulated scattering profiles have been generated for direct comparison with experimental data. The samples studied were a triethoxysilane-endcapped bisphenol A epoxide resin (EAS) reacted in the presence of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) under slightly basic conditions, and a random trimethoxysilane-functionalized copolymer of poly(methyl methacrylate) (MMA-TMS) with added tetramethoxysilane (TMOS), reacted in an acidic medium. Each morphology model qualitatively simulates the broad scattering maximum and limiting high-angle slope commonly seen in SAXS profiles. It is concluded that the inorganic phase in the EAS hybrid exhibits particle-like characteristics at length scales less than approximately 250 Angstrom, acid the organic and inorganic components are bicontinuous at larger distances. The MMA-TMS composite is better described by bicontinuous organic and inorganic phases with a periodic fluctuation of about 40 Angstrom. The scattering maximum arises either from the mean separation of pal-tides or a dominant wavelength in a concentration fluctuation, similar to that observed for spinodal decomposition. In either case, the SAXS peak position is related to the distance between junction points of the crosslinked organic polymer.