Abstract
The preparation and properties of polyglycidol (PGLD)/silica hybrid gels were investigated. The gels were synthesized by the reaction of hyperbranched PGLD and triethoxysilyl-capped poly(ethylene oxide) in the presence of colloidal silica 80 nm in size or tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) under acidic circumstances. The crosslinking reaction gave hybrid gels with a relatively high gel fraction over 98%. The degree of gel swelling obtained by the reaction using colloidal silica and TEOS decreased with SiO2 content, while the stiffness of the gels increased with SiO2 content. Gels prepared from TEOS exhibited a swelling ratio ranging from 25% to 40%, which was relatively higher than those from colloidal silica. They also demonstrated a higher stiffness in comparison to those from colloidal silica, probably due to high crosslinking.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
