Synthesis of polyethylene hybrid copolymers containing polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane prepared with ring-opening metathesis copolymerization

• Published in: Journal of polymer science. Part A, Polymer chemistry Polymer chemistry, 2001-09, Vol.39 (17), p.2920-2928
• Main Authors: Zheng, Lei, Farris, Richard J., Coughlin, E. Bryan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Inorganic and organomineral polymers; organic-inorganic hybrid material; Physicochemistry of polymers; polyethylene (PE); polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) copolymers; polyolefin nanocomposites; Preparation; ring-opening metathesis copolymerization
• ISSN: 0887-624X; 1099-0518
• DOI: 10.1002/pola.1272

Ring‐opening metathesis copolymerizations of cyclooctene and the polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) monomer 1‐[2‐(5‐norbornen‐2‐yl)ethyl]‐3,5,7,9,11,13,15‐heptacyclopentylpentacyclo[9.5.1.13,9.15,15.17,13] octasiloxane (POSS–norbornylene) were performed with Grubbs's catalyst, RuCl2(CHPh)(PCy3)2. Random copolymers were formed and fully characterized with POSS loadings as high as 55 wt %. Diimide reduction of these copolymers afforded polyethylene–POSS random copolymers. Thermogravimetric analysis of the polyethylene–POSS copolymers under air showed a 70 °C improvement, relative to a polyethylene control sample of similar molecular weight, in the onset of decomposition temperature based on 5% mass loss. The homopolymer of POSS–norbornylene was also synthesized. This polymer had a rigid backbone according to 1H NMR evidence of broad olefinic signals. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2920–2928, 2001 Ring‐opening metathesis copolymerizations of cyclooctene and the POSS monomer 1‐[2‐(5‐norbornen‐2‐yl)ethyl]‐3,5,7,9,11,13,15‐hepatocyclopentylpentacyclo [9.5.1.13,9.15,15.17,13] octasiloxane (POSS‐norbornylene, 1) have been performed using Grubbs's catalyst RuCl2(=CHPh)(PCy3)2. Random copolymers have been formed and fully characterized. Diimide reduction of these copolymers affords polyethylene‐POSS random copolymers. Thermogravimetric analysis of the polyethylene‐POSS copolymers shows dramatic improvement of oxidative resistance.