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T. Koch, F.R. Kogler, U. Schubert, S. Seidler:
"Mechanical Properties of Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Materials Determined by Indentation Techniques";
Talk: 8^th Austrian Polymer Meeting, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria; 09-20-2006 - 09-22-2006; in: "The Chain of Knowlegde - From Catalyst to Application", K. Vincze-Minya, A. Schausberger (ed.); (2006).

Organic-inorganic hybrid materials were prepared by a step-wise free radical co-polymerization of styrene and the multifimctional zirconium oxo cluster Zr₆O₄(OH)₄(methacrylate)₁₂ (Zr6). The concentration of the cluster in the polymer matrix was varied.
With the help of (micro)indentation and scratch testing, the influence of the Zr6 clusters on the mechanical properties such as hardness, stiffness, creep, craze Initiation and scratch resistance were shown.
There was only a slight increase in hardness and in indentation modulus with higher cluster contents. This observation was in agreement with the compression behaviour of the materials, whereas the tensile properties showed a much strenger dependence on the Zr6 content.
With increasing cluster loading, an increase of craze initiation stress, as determined by ball indentation experiments, was found.
Performing scratch testing with constant load, a reduction of pile-up and a stronger recovery were observed for the hybrid materials compared to the neat PS. Scratch tests with a constant increase of load showed an increase of the critical load for crack opening during scratching.