Structure and properties of nanocomposites based on poly(arylene ether ketones) and metalalkoxysiloxanes

Nanocomposites obtained by in situ filling from amorphous poly(arylene ether ketones) based on 4,4´-difluorobenzophenone and 3,3-bis(4´-hydroxyphenyl)phthalide (phenolphthalein) with hydroxyl or benzophenone end groups were investigated. Metalalkoxysiloxanes, namely tris-(diethoxymethylsiloxy)iron, tetrakis-(diethoxymethylsiloxy)zirconium, and tetrakis- (diethoxymethylsiloxy)hafnium were used as precursors of the inorganic phase. It is shown that the morphology of the inorganic phase of nanocomposites can be varied from dispersed particles to a continuous network only by changing the type of the central metal atom of the metalalkoxysiloxane with the same organosilicon “framing”. The concentration of the precursor influences mainly the size of the filler particles. An application of tris-(diethoxymethylsiloxy)iron at a concentration of less than 14 wt.% makes it possible to obtain in situ filled polymers with a higher glass transition temperature than the ones obtained using tetrakis-(diethoxymethylsiloxy)zirconium or tetrakis-(diethoxymethylsiloxy)hafnium.