Sol-Gel-Polymer Nanocomposite and Methods Thereof

A method for making a composite comprising:

• a first reacting of a mixture comprised of:
• i) an alkoxide compound of the formula RxM(OR1)m-x,
• where M is Si, Ti, Ta, Sn, Al, Zr, Hf, or a combination thereof,
• R, if present, is a hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, or an unsaturated hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms,
• OR1 is each independently an alcoholysable hydrocarbyloxy group having from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms,
• x is 0 to 4, and
• m is 1 to 5, and
• ii) a diol of the formula HO—R2—OH, or an alcohol of the formula HO—R3, where
• R2 is a divalent hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, or a polymeric group;
• R3 is a polymerizable unsaturated hydrocarbylene group having from 3 to about 18 carbon atoms, or
• a mixture of a diol of the formula HO—R2—OH and an alcohol of the formula HO—R3;
• and
• a second reacting of a mixture comprising the resulting product of the first reacting and a mixture comprised of an unsaturated anhydride, a cross-linker, and a free-radical initiator.