Synthesis of New Hybrid Mineral / Renewable Sol-Gel Matrices by Inter-Cross-Linking Siloxane Based Polymers with Polysaccharides
Résumé
Silicon based sol-gels are polymeric matrices that have a wide range of applications from high porosity to corrosion
protection coatings. Our research has specialized in the synthesis of a variety of sol gel matrices using binary or
ternary combinations of alkylalkoxysilanes. Depending on the starting silane, these colloids are crosslinked in a
number of ways, to produce materials with unique, innovative and potentially valuable properties. In our group at
Reims University we have developed several unique processes for polysaccharide modification and cross-linking
leading to hydrogels and materials possessing innovative properties, such as renewable and biodegradable
materials from amylaceous polysaccharides. In the present work we present the synthesis of hybrid materials
composed of a dual synthetic and renewable - siloxane / polysaccharidic base by inter-crosslinking the two polymeric networks in aqueous solution. The advantage of crosslinkable sol-gel hybrid matrices over traditional sol-gel chemistry methods are primarily the ability to avoid using high temperature processing to solidify the material, the opportunity to incorporate useful organic functionality into the final matrix, improved mechanical strength and
potential partial biodegradability.