Sol-gel derived hybrid nanocomposites in porous semi-crystalline polymers

Nanocomposites of porous isotactic polypropylene (PP) - silica were synthesized by combining solid-state and a hybridization approach. The 1H NMR, 29Si solid-state NMR, and FT-IR data indicate that silane may graft onto PP and be incorporated in the formation of silica. The 29Si solid-state NMR showed that silica-clusters structures are formed predominantly, close to perfect silica. ATR FT-IR data of PP-silica macroparticles indicate silane grafting on the surface and inside the particles. Typical size (30-100 nm) and near-spherical shape of in-situ formed silica particles were detd. by SEM