Manufacturing of POSS-polymer nanocomposites

Abstract POSS are nano-sized stable three-dimensional architectures that consist of alternate Si O bonds to form cage structures with Si atoms as vertices. The mono- or multifunctional POSS could be prepared through modification of their reactive organic functional groups attached in the vertex positions. Depending on the structure and reactivity of those vertex groups, POSS may be introduced into virtually any existing polymer system. This chapter summarizes recent developments on the preparation of POSS-polymer nanocomposites, including blending POSS with polymers, incorporating POSS into the main chain of polymers, tethering POSS to polymers as pendants, initiating POSS as microinitiators to form cross-linked polymer networks, and grafting POSS on carbon materials. The POSS-polymer nanocomposite properties and structure relationship as well as their potential applications are particularly highlighted in this chapter.