Thermal and mechanical properties of liquid‐like trisilanol isobutyl‐polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) derivative/epoxy nanocomposites

Liquid-like trisilanol isobutyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes derivative (L-POSS-D) was synthesized with γ-(2,3-epoxypropoxy)propytrimethoxysilane (KH560) as corona and polyetheramine M1000 as canopy. Its structure and properties were characterized by FTIR, XPS, TGA and Rheology data. Epoxy nanocomposites with 0.0wt%, 0.5wt%, 1.0wt% and 2.0wt% content of L-POSS-D were prepared. Tg of the nanocomposites improved 47.6°C higher than pure epoxy resin. Mechanical properties, including flexural strength and impact toughness, were improved markedly with L-POSS-D. The morphologies of impact fracture were studied by SEM. POLYM. COMPOS., 2015. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers