Inorganic-organic composite compositions with sustained release properties

A sustained release composition of an inorganic oxide glass monolith with a microporous structure and a physically incorporated organic content consisting essentially of (1) between about 10-90 weight percent, based on the incorporated organic content, of a volatile organic component selected from the group consisitng of fragrances and insect repellents;

• and (2) a nonvolatile polymer component selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyamides, polysiloxanes, polyvinyls, polyoxyalkylenes, and polysaccharides.

A process for producing a sustained release composite composition consisting essentially of an inorganic oxide glass monolith with a microporous structure and an incorporated organic content, which comprises (1) hydrolyzing tetraalkoxysilane under acidic or basic pH conditions in a sol-gel reaction medium comprising water and a water-miscible organic solvent component until gellation of the reaction medium is completed;

• (2) removing the solvent medium to provide a porous glass monolith;
• and (3) impregnating the porous glass monolith with an organic content consisting essentially of (1) between about 10-90 weight percent, based on the incorporated organic content, of volatile organic component selected from the group consisting of fragrances and insect repellents;
• and (2) a nonvolatile organic component selected from the group consisting of esters, polyols, polethers, hydrocarbons or substituted hydrocarbons, cyclic ketones, cyclic lactones, cyclic ethers, and polymers.

A jewelry article which contains a shaped composition with a gem appearance comprising a sustained release composite which consists of an inorganic oxide glass monolith with a microporous structure and a physically incorporated organic content consisting essentially of (1) between about 10-90 weight percent, based on the incorporated organic content, of a volatile fragrance organic component;

• and (2) a nonvolatile organic component selected from the group consisting of esters, polyols, polyethers, hydrocarbons or substituted hydrocarbons, cyclic ketones, cyclic lactones, cyclic ethers, and polymers.