PMMA-impregnated silica gels: synthesis and characterization

Bennet L. Abramoff; Lisa C. Klein

doi:10.1117/12.22563

1 November 1990 PMMA-impregnated silica gels: synthesis and characterization

Bennet L. Abramoff, Lisa C. Klein

Proceedings Volume 1328, Sol-Gel Optics; (1990) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.22563
Event: 34th Annual International Technical Symposium on Optical and Optoelectronic Applied Science and Engineering, 1990, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

Shaped microporous silica has been prepared by a sol-gel process. The resulting silicas have 50% open porosity. The open porosity is filled by immersing the shapes in methyl methacrylate (MMA) and polymerizing with ultraviolet radiation. The fully impregnated silica is recovered in net shape. The outstanding feature of the PMMA-impregnated silica is its transparency. There is little loss from scattering because of the nanometer scale of the micro-structure and the similarity in index of refraction for silica and PMMA. The flexure strength of the sillca-PMMA composite has been measured in iL-point bending. The strength increases at slower strain pates because the PMMA provides crack blunting. The composites can withstand thermal shocks up to about 150°C without losing strength. The thermal expansion coefficient for the range 0 to 150°C follows a mixing rule for 50% silica - 50% PMMA. While the mechanical behavior of the composite largely follows that of bulk PMMA, the microhardness is 3 to 5 times greater than for bulk PMMA.

Citation Download Citation

Bennet L. Abramoff and Lisa C. Klein "PMMA-impregnated silica gels: synthesis and characterization", Proc. SPIE 1328, Sol-Gel Optics, (1 November 1990); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.22563

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