Preparation and characterization of hybrid nanocomposites coated on LDPE

Hybrid organic-inorganic nanocomposites con- taining hyperbranched structures were prepared through a dual-curing process, which involves photopolymerization and condensation alkoxysilane groups. In particular, an oligomer containing PEO units and a,v-methacrylate groups was used together with a HBP bearing acrylic groups as the organic phase precursors. MEMO, as the organic-inorganic linker, and TEOS, as inorganic phase precursor, were also employed. The kinetics of both photopolymerization and condensation reactions were investigated by double bond conversion analysis (via FT-IR) and weight loss determi- nation, respectively. The mobility of the organic phase was studied by means of DSC and DMTA and correlated with hybrid composition. TEM analyses performed on micro- tomed film slices indicated the formation of nanoscale silica domains. Hybrids were coated onto an LDPE film previously subjected to a plasma treatment, and substrate-coating inter- facial adhesion was investigated through stress-strain and DMTA experiments