Solution-Phase Synthesis of Silica Fibers and Their Use in Making Transparent High-Strength Silica-Polymer Composites

A solution-phase synthesis of silica fibers is demonstrated. Silica fibers with length up to 50 μm and diameter ≈ 300 nm were synthesized. Fiber structure was characterized by using scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis, and Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) pore size and volume analysis. Fiber reinforced polymer composite films were made and investigated to demonstrate the use of these fibers as a reinforce material. A polymer composite film having 6% of silica fibers showed 38% and 16% increase in the Young's modulus and the yield point, respectively, when compared to the Young's modulus and yield point of the polymer alone. Composite films had quite good visible transmittance (>90%).