Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) is a new class of lightweight, high performance hybrid nanomaterials. Covalently attached POSS to polymer chains has resulted in polymers with higher glass transition temperatures (Tg) as well as increased hardness, toughness, fire retardance, and corrosion inhibition. In this work, a novel sonochemical method has been developed to coat POSS nanoparticles onto expandable thermoplastic macrospheres. The POSS infused expancel polymer was fabricated into a foam core panel using an MTP-14 programmable compression molding by heating to 190°C for 15 minutes under a pressure of 15000 lbs. Morphological investigation of the coated microspheres have been done using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) experiments were carried out to determine decomposition temperature, and glass transition temperature of these materials. Mechanical evaluations of Quasi-static compression have also been carried out for the nanophased foam.
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