Influence of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes on thermal and mechanical properties of melt-mixed poly(methyl methacrylate)/polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes composites

Abstract

In this study, the influence of the functionalization of fully or incomplete condensed polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes composites (POSS) nanoparticles on the properties of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-based composites has been studied. POSS with different organic substituents (methacryl, methacrylateisooctyl and trisilanolphenyl) are taken into account and added to the PMMA matrix by direct melt blending at loadings between 0 and 5 wt%. Significant differences in compatibility were observed depending on the structure of nanoparticles. POSS aggregation occurred during blending producing micron-sized aggregates in the composites. The thermal decomposition temperature of the composites with good dispersion of POSS aggregates increased under oxidative conditions. There were no significant changes in other thermal and mechanical properties of the composites. The relationships among these effects and the morphological characteristics of the systems were analysed.