Study on the optical properties of sulfur‐containing poly(methyl methacrylate)‐inorganic hybrid

High refractive index homogeneous hybrid materials were successfully prepared. The polymer matrix was the copolymer of methyl methacrylate, sulfur‐containing monomer 2,2′‐mercaptoethylsulfide dimethacrylate (MESDMA), and nanotitania was prepared by in situ solgel process of titanium n‐butoxide. The transmission electron microscope (TEM) study suggested that the hybrid was homogeneous without inorganic agglomerate, and the inorganic particles were 4–7 nm. The refractive index was ～ 1.75 when the inorganic content of the hybrid film reached to 70 wt %, and the transmittance maintained up to 85%. The sulfur‐containing monomer was used to improve the refractive index, also, it was a crosslinking reagent, which improved the film‐forming ability of the hybrid. After copolymerized with MESDMA, the film‐forming ability of the hybrid was better than the one without MESDMA. Even if the inorganic content exceeded 75 wt %, the films kept integrity. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009