Importance

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Abstract

Polymeric inorganic-organic compositions are obtained by intimately mixing a hydrolyzable precursor of an inorganic gel of silicon, titanium, or zirconium with an organic polymer and with an organic carboxylic acid having a pK.sub.a value of at most 4.0, present in an amount of at least 2 moles per mole of inorganic component, under conditions such that a homogeneous solution of all three components is initially formed, agitating the solution at 0.degree.-100.degree. C. until gelation of the inorganic component occurs, and recovering the inorganic-organic composition. Water need not be present as an initial reactant. Such compositions often are transparent, always have improved toughness, as compared with inorganic gels alone, and are believed to have a structure in which the organic polymer is entrapped in the inorganic gel in such an intimate manner that these two components cannot be separated from each other by physical means without destruction of the organic polymer.

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First Claim