Abstract
Novel polystyrene (PS)/polyhedral oligomeric silsequioxanes (POSSs) nanocomposites were designed and prepared by in situ polymerization, using, for the first time, three-cage POSS molecules. The synthesized compounds were first characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and 1H NMR spectroscopy to verify the obtaining of the designed products before their thermal performance was evaluated and compared with those of pristine PS and the corresponding single-cage POSSs nanocomposites. The thermal behaviour was checked by the means of the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was also used to confirm the hypothesis about the dispersion/aggregation of the POSS molecules into the polymer matrix. The parameters chosen to evaluate the thermal stability of the investigated compounds, namely temperature at 5% of mass loss (T5%) and solid residue at 700 °C, showed a significant increase in the stability of the polymers reinforced with the three-cages POSS, in comparison to both PS and single-cage POSS reinforced PSs, which therefore turn out to be promising molecular fillers for nanocomposite production.
Highlights
IntroductionPolystyrene (PS) is one of the oldest polymers, it was identified by Bonastre in the 1831 by the distillation of Storax obtained from the Turkish sweet gum trees, and distilled first time in 1939 by Simon as an oily liquid named styrol, converted into a jelly product, the styroloxide
Polystyrene (PS) is one of the oldest polymers, it was identified by Bonastre in the 1831 by the distillation of Storax obtained from the Turkish sweet gum trees, and distilled first time in 1939 by Simon as an oily liquid named styrol, converted into a jelly product, the styroloxide.Industrially, polystyrene was manufactured starting from 1869 by Berthelot and the patents were granted to F.E
The resistance to and thermooxidative degradation evaluated by the means of thermogravimetric to the thermal degradation was evaluated by spectroscopy
Summary
Polystyrene (PS) is one of the oldest polymers, it was identified by Bonastre in the 1831 by the distillation of Storax obtained from the Turkish sweet gum trees, and distilled first time in 1939 by Simon as an oily liquid named styrol, converted into a jelly product, the styroloxide. 1)ofwith alkyl (having unique that can molecules be used to(Figure create a1)wide variety hybrid and composite or aryl substituents were firstly designed and studied [21,22], observing the effects of the substituents where controlwere of nanostructures and properties is required [20]. Since 2012, the chainmaterials, length) or aryl precise substituents firstly designed and studied [21,22], observing the effects of nature (alkyl or aryl) on the ability of the molecules to be dispersed in the matrix and on the effect of POSSs incorporation in matrix by polymerization in situ was investigated by our research the substituents nature (alkyl or aryl) on the ability of the molecules to be dispersed in the matrix and atproperties the of Catania.
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