Structure-property evaluation of trisilanolphenyl POSS registered /polysulfone composites as a guide to POSS melt blending

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science 2012-08, Vol.125 (4), p.2914-2919
• Main Authors: Milliman, Henry W, Sanchez-Soto, Miguel, Arostegui, Asier, Schiraldi, David A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aggregates; Cracks; Injection molding; Melt blending; Phenyls; Polysulfone resins; Reproduction; Screws
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/app.36229

A series of polysulfone/phenyl trisilanol POSS nanocomposites were produced by melt blending by twin screw batch mixing. These materials were then injection molded, and their thermal, mechanical, and morphological properties were tested. The tensile properties of polysulfone were moderately compromised by the addition of phenyl TPOSS, because of the formation of large ( 1 mu m) voided POSS aggregates. These domains however did cause the improvement of the impact resistance of the composites as described by the mechanism of crack pinning and bowing. Flexural properties remained essentially unchanged, which is attributed to the formation of an aggregate free-skin layer, which formed in the injection molded parts. Thermal behavior of the composites also remained largely unchanged due to the lack of POSS-polymer interactions on the molecular/chain segment scale. Initially, it was hypothesized that a high degree of POSS-polymer interactions would be present in these composited based on examination of their chemical structures. This however, was not the case as phase separation was clearly present. This work highlights the need for a better understanding of the prediction of POSS-polymer interaction. [copy 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012