Preparation and characterization of maleic anhydride grafted SEBS/silica composites through modification by ethanolamine

In our previous study, SEBS was first grafted by using maleic anhydride (MA) to form SEBS-g-MA, and it was then modified by ethanolamine (EA), which was noted as EA modified SEBS-g-MA. In this study, the EA modified SEBS-g-MA was compounded with tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) using the sol-gel method to form EA modified SEBS-g-MA/silica composites. The chemical structures, mechanical properties and thermal stability of the EA modified SEBS-g-MA/silica composites were characterized. SEBS-g-MA modified with EA formed imide structures with hydroxyl group. After EA modified SEBS-g-MA reacted with TEOS, the absorption peak of Si-O-Si structure was observed in the EA modified SEBS-g-MA modified SEBS/silica composites. From solid-state NMR, the structures of silica in the EA modified SEBS-g-MA/silica composites were mainly in the forms of networks made of Si bonding with three or four -O-Si groups. In TGA, the thermal stability of the EA modified SEBS-g-MA/silica was better than that of SEBS. The storage modulus and Tg of the EA modified SEBS-g-MA/silica composites were enhanced. The tensile strength and Young's modulus of EA modified SEBS-g-MA/silica was improved.