Synthesis of maleimide substituted polystyrene–silica hybrid utilizing michael addition reaction

The transparent polymer hybrids were prepared from polystyrene bearing pendant maleimide moieties (16%) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) using γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (γ-APS) as a crosslinking agent by an in situ sol–gel process by utilizing Michael-addition reaction. Maleimide substituted polystyrene was synthesized by a mild Friedel-Crafts reaction of polystyrene and N-chloromethylmaleimide. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectral data confirms the occurrence of Michael-addition reaction between the pendant maleimide moieties of the styrene copolymer and γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. The percentage of maleimide substitution was calculated from ¹H NMR spectrum. The transparent hybrid shows high solvent resistance at the boiling point of Tetrahydrofuran (THF) since the polystyrene-substituted-maleimide (PS-s-MA) was covalently bonded with siloxane matrix. Thermal properties of the transparent hybrid materials were investigated by Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) in order to ascertain their glass transition temperature (Tg) and thermal stability behaviour. Morphology and transparency of the organic–inorganic hybrids were confirmed by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical images. The homogeneity of the polymer hybrids was also examined by nitrogen porosimetry studies.