Polymer–silica composites and silicas produced by high-temperature degradation of organic component

• Preparation of polymer–silica composites by swelling in TEOS.
• High Porous silica obtained with polymer template.
• Application of TG analysis for swelling and adsorption distinction.
• Silica gel porosity is regulated by the chemical character of polymer template.
• Silica incorporation causes stiffening of polymer structure.

Highly porous polymer–silica nanocomposites and silica gels were prepared using cross-linked copolymer resins of various chemical character as organic templates. Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) was successfully introduced into the template by the swelling of the preformed polymer particles. The silica source introduced into the resins was transferred into the silica gel by the means of the sol–gel method. After the organic component had been removed during a high temperature treatment of the polymer–silica nanocomposites, the spherically shaped silica particles were obtained. The pore structure of nanocomposites and calcined pellets was investigated through the conventional adsorption method so as to study the evolution of the porosity in the polymer templates of various character. The analysis of the porosity parameters characterizing the investigated materials within micro- and mesopores indicates a varying extent of the penetration of silica component into polymer templates, depending on their geometrical structure and hydrophobicity.

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