Mechanical Properties of an Inorganic−Organic Hybrid Polymer Cross-linked by the Cluster Zr4O2(methacrylate)12

The flexural strength and the flexural modulus of inorganic−organic hybrid polymers obtained by sol−gel processing and subsequent light-induced polymerization of bis[(methacryloyloxy)propoxycarbonylethyl)](3-triethoxysilyl)propylamine or (1,3(2)-bismethacryloyloxypropyl)(3-triethoxysilylpropylaminocarbonyl)butyrate is enhanced by copolymerization with 10 wt % of the methacrylate-substituted oxozirconium cluster Zr4O2(OMc)12. The mechanical properties of the cluster-cross-linked hybrid polymers do not deteriorate upon water storage at 37 °C.