Thermochemical Reaction of Polystyrene-Silica Polymer Hybrids as a Reaction Field

Abstract

We report a polymer reaction utilizing the internal environment of organic-inorganic polymer hybrids. Homogeneous polystyrene and silica polymer hybrids were prepared by in situ radical polymerization. Styrene monomer was introduced into a sol-gel reaction mixture of tetramethoxysilane and the polymerization was initiated by 2,2′-azobis(isobutyronitrile), while the sol-gel reaction of tetramethoxysilane proceeded to form a silica. When the polymer hybrids were heated at 180°C, the polyene radicals were observed in the ESR spectrum. In the case of polystyrene-silica polymer hybrids, the spin concentration of polyene radicals was 7.54×10¹⁸ spins/g after heating at 180°C.