Synthesis and Characterization of a POSS-Maleimide Precursor for Hybrid Nanocomposites

Abstract

Epoxy-POSS based hybrid nanocomposites are prepared by in situ polymerization of a homogeneous blend of the diglycidylether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA) and 4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM) in the presence of octa(maleimidophenyl)silsesquioxane (OMPS). The reaction of a maleimido-functionalised POSS cube with the epoxy resin is studied by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis and the formation of nanocomposites is confirmed by wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) studies indicate that the crosslinking structures of the nanocomposite networks are predominantly formed 2 between the terminal maleimide double bonds and the amino groups of DDM through a Michael addition reaction to form an aspartimide. The values of the glass transition temperatures (T g ) decrease with increasing POSS-maleimide content and this is likely to be due to the inclusion of POSS cages into the system and consequent increase in free volume. The dynamic thermal stability of the cured polymers is increased by increasing the POSS content in the hybrid epoxy matrices as evidenced from thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) data.

Segmental dynamics in hybrid polymer/POSS nanomaterials

“…The same system was studied independently later and similar results were obtained with respect to T g [202] while small improvement in the glassy modulus is reported.…”

Structural and thermal characterizations of silica nanoparticles grafted with pendant maleimide and epoxide groups

“…DDM has been widely used in cure reactions of epoxy and BMI [33][34][35]. Thus, DDM was selected to investigate the reactivity of free maleimide and epoxide groups grafted onto silica surface.…”

Preparation of self-healing organic–inorganic nanocomposites with the reactions between methacrylated polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes and furfurylamine

“…Consideration of the POSS nanohybrids as reactive agents in polymer synthesis, rather than as inorganic additives or modifiers, could result in POSS-based nanohybrids materials which possess high POSS contents. POSS molecules which possess self-polymerizable chemical units, such as maleimide [19], benzoxazine [20], and methacrylate groups [21], are suitable monomers for preparation of POSS-based nanohybrids materials through the polymerization reaction of the reactive groups. On the other hand, reaction between reactive POSS units with another compound provides another approach to prepare POSS-based nanocomposites with much flexibility in molecular designs.…”