Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 February 2011
Scratch resistant transparent organically modified sol-gel materialstypically utilize organics as acrylates, or pre-polymer silicon or carbonbackbone material. The use of diepoxide monomers within a sol-gel matrix hasyet to be described as a means of obtaining high performance coatingmaterials. This paper describes the preparation and characterization of UVcurable inorganic-organic hybrid glass materials based on the incorporationof cycloaliphatic diepoxide monomers into a sol-gel composition of TEOS andthe epoxide silane coupling agent glycidoxypropyl-trimethoxysilane. Wereport aging and humidity studies along with processing conditions thataffect the silicate distribution and cationic cure of the diepoxide resinbased on solution and solid state NMR experiments. Mechanical analysis ofthin films prepared by varying processing conditions and length of thediepoxide backbone are also discussed.