Synthesis of transparent polymer hybrids consisting of gelatin, as a natural polymer, and zinc oxide

Abstract

Abstract Gelatin and zinc oxide (ZnO) polymer hybrids were prepared via the sol–gel reaction of zinc acetate dihydrate in the presence of gelatin. When the gelatin/ZnO ratio was 9/1, a transparent polymer hybrid was obtained. This hybrid contained no phase separations consisting of organic and inorganic phases. Microscopic or submicroscopic aggregations and separations between gelatin and ZnO were clearly observed in the sample with a high inorganic content. The results of thermal analysis showed that the yield of ceramic decreased as ZnO content increased, and a 10% weight loss temperature increased as gelatin content increased. FT-IR measurements suggested the formation of intermolecular interactions, thought to be hydrogen bonds, between gelatin and ZnO. Furthermore, the results of XRD measurements revealed that the hybrid with a ZnO content of 10% is amorphous.