Effect of Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane (POSS) Substituents on the Rheological Behavior in Butyl Methacrylate/POSS Copolymers

摘要

Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) has generated much interest in the development of novel nanomaterials. POSS has an inorganic silicon oxide core with each silicon bonded to one organic moiety yielding the empirical formula (RSiO1.5)n,n = 8,10 or 12. The discrete particle size is on the order of ~1.5 nm.1 The organic groups attached to the silicon atoms in the POSS cage can serve many different functions. If the organic groups are identical and nonfunctional then the POSS can be blended into an existing polymer to yield increase toughness,crystallization rate or hydrophobicity. The organic groups can be identical and functionalized where POSS molecules can be used as cross-linking agents and yield membranes or fire retardant materials.5-6 Another POSS molecule has one or two of the organic groups functionalized forming a copolymer. These systems can lead to improved properties such as increased glass transition temperature,solvent or atomic oxygen resistance.