Properties of POSS blends with pCBT, PMMA, PC and POM thermoplastics

The influence of the functionalisation of fully or partially condensed POSS cages on the properties of engineering thermoplastic-based nanocomposites is studied. POSS with different organic substituents were selected in accordance with the structure and chemical composition of the host polymer and melt mixed with the corresponding matrix. In general, good dispersion at the nanoscale level was achieved upon the addition of some functionalised POSS, leading to a remarkable increase on the thermal decomposition temperature under nitrogen atmosphere. However, for the polymers having high decomposition temperatures, there were no significant changes on the thermal properties of the nanocomposites. On the other hand, the dispersion of the POSS, whatever its functionalisation was, led to the presence of micron-sized aggregates. The relationships among these effects and the morphological characteristics of the systems were analysed.