Sol–Gel Technology Plus Radiation Curing: A Novel and Facile Technique for Preparing Thick, Large-Area Hyperbranched Polysiloxane Hybrids

Abstract

Large-scale shrinkages and holes are the two critical disadvantages of the silicone resin prepared by the sol–gel technology and cured via traditional processes. To simultaneously overcome both problems, sol–gel technology along with γ-radiation curing is developed for preparing organic–inorganic hybrids with large size and thicknesses. A hyperbranched polysiloxane (H-PMAPS) is successfully synthesized through the controlling hydrolysis of 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane and then is subjected to nuclear magnetic resonance (Si NMR) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra to characterize its structure. Room-temperature radiation curing followed by thermal curing out-of-the-mold at 170 °C for 3 h is suitable for curing H-PMAPS (denoted as RC-T/PMAPS). The RC-T/PMAPS hybrid exhibits a homogeneous phase with a riverlike morphology, excellent thermal resistance, and dielectric properties and is optically transparent. These attractive features of the RC-T/PMAPS hybrid suggest that the new approach pro...