Modification of polyethylene–octene elastomer by silica through a sol–gel process

In this study, tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and a metallocene polyethylene–octene elastomer (POE) were chosen as the ceramic precursor and the continuous phase, respectively, for the preparation of new hybrids by an in situ sol–gel process. To obtain a better hybrid, a maleic anhydride‐grafted polyethylene–octene elastomer (POE‐ g ‐MAH), used as the continuous phase, was also investigated. Characterizations of POE‐ g ‐MAH/SiO 2 and POE/SiO 2 hybrids were performed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and 29 Si solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometers, a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), a thermogravimetry analyzer, and an Instron mechanical tester. The results showed that the POE‐ g ‐MAH/SiO 2 hybrid could improve the properties of the POE/SiO 2 hybrid because the interfacial force between the polymer matrix and the silica network was changed from hydrogen bonds into covalent SiOC bonds through dehydration of hydroxy groups in POE‐ g ‐MAH with residual silanol groups in the silica network. The existence of covalent SiOC bonds was proved by FTIR spectra. For the POE/SiO 2 and POE‐ g ‐MAH/SiO 2 hybrids, maximum values of the tensile strength and the glass transition temperature were found at 9 wt % SiO 2 since a limited content of silica might be linked with the polymer chains through the covalent bond. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 966–972, 2003