Realisation of ORMOSIL ionomers by the crosslinking of propyl methacrylate siloxane and a protected styrenesulfonic acid

1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-1-naphthylideneamino styrene-p-sulfonate (NISS) and poly(propyl methacrylate siloxane) (PMS) were free-radically crosslinked, yielding insoluble copolymers in which the siloxane and NISS components appear well intermixed. These materials were then treated with ultraviolet radiation to deprotect the sulfonic acid functionality and give insoluble hydrophilic ionomers which are stable to temperatures greater than 150 degrees C. Materials were characterised, before and after ultraviolet deprotection, using FTIR and various NMR spectroscopies, thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis.