In this study, a silicic acid and tetra isopropyl ortho titanate ceramic precursor and a metallocene polyethylene-octene elastomer (POE) or acrylic acid grafted metallocene polyethylene-octene elastomer (POE-g-AA) were used in the preparation of hybrids (POE/SiO2-TiO2 and POE-g-AA/SiO2-TiO2) using an in situ sol-gel process, with a view to identifying a hybrid with improved thermal and mechanical properties. Hybrids were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Si-29 solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry analysis, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, and Instron mechanical testing. Properties of the POE-g-AA/SiO2-TiO2 hybrid were superior to those of the POE/SiO2-TiO2 hybrid. This was because the carboxylic acid groups of acrylic acid acted as coordination sites for the silica-titania phase to allow the formation of stronger chemical bonds. Si-29 solid-state NMR showed that Si atoms coordinated around SiO4, units were predominantly Q(3) and Q(4). The 10 wt % SiO2-TiO2 hybrids gave the maximum values of tensile strength and glass transition temperature in both POE/SiO2-TiO2 and POE-g-AA/SiO2-TiO2. It is proposed that above this wt %, excess SiO2-nO(2) particles caused separation between the organic and inorganic phases. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.