Manufacturing processes

ORMOCER^® is hybrid polymer material synthesized by the sol-gel process. This process starts by building up an inorganic network through controlled hydrolysis and condensation of organically modified Si alkoxides. Co-condensation with other metal alkoxides (Ti, Zr, Al alkoxides) is also possible.

In a subsequent step the polymerizable groups, which are fixed to the inorganic network, react with each other in a thermal or UV-initiated process. In this two-stage process an inorganic-organic copolymer is synthesized. In addition it is possible to use organically modified Si alkoxides, which do not enter into any organic polymerization reaction and thereby contribute to an organic functionalization of the inorganic network.