Preparation and Characterization of Hybrid Materials of Epoxy Resin Type Bisphenol A With Silicon and Titanium Oxides by Sol Gel Process

Abstract

Hybrid materials were synthesized from epoxy resins as a result bisphenol type A- silicon oxide and epoxy resin bisphenol type A-titanium oxide were obtained. The synthesis was done by sol-gel process using tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and titanium isopropoxide (ITi) as inorganic precursors. The molar ratio of bisphenol A to the inorganic precursors was the studied variable. The materials were characterized by thermal analysis, infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX). The hybrid nature of the materials was demonstrated through thermal analysis and infrared spectroscopy. In both systems, as the amount of alkoxide increased, the bands described above were more defined. This behavior indicates the interactions between the resin and the alkoxides. Hybrids with TEOS showed a smoother and homogeneus surface in its entirety, without irregularities. Hybrids with titanium isopropoxide had low roughness. Both TEOS and ITi hybrids showed a decrease on the atomic weight percentage of carbon due to a slight reduction of the organic part on the surface.