Composites and methods of making and using the composites

A method for making a composite comprising:

• a first heating of a first mixture comprising:
• i) a metal alkoxide of the formula Rx-M(OR1)m-x,
• where
• M is Si, Ti, Ta, Sn, Al, Zr, Hf, or a combination thereof,
• R, if present, is a substituted or unsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated, hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms,
• OR1 is each independently an alcoholyzable hydrocarbyloxy group having from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms,
• x is 0 to 5, and
• m is 1 to 5, and
• ii) a diol of the formula HO—R2—OH, an alcohol of the formula HO—R3, or a mixture thereof,
• where
• R2 is a divalent substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbylene having from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, or an oligomeric or polymeric group comprising at least one chain incorporating a plurality of alkoxyl groups, urethane groups, carbonate groups, or a combination thereof;
• R3 is an unsaturated and polymerizable hydrocarbyl having from 3 to about 18 carbon atoms;
• and
• combining a monomer having at least one unsaturated isocyanate or a polymerizable oligomer having at least one isocyanate, a cross-linker, and a free radical initiator, and the product of the heated first mixture, and accomplishing a second heating to form the composite.