Crystallization Behavior and Dynamic Mechanical Properties of Poly(ε-caprolactone)/Octaisobutyl-Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxanes Composites Prepared via Different Methods

Two octaisobutyl-polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes(oib-POSS)reinforced biodegradable poly(ε-caprolactone)(PCL)composites were prepared via two different methods,i.e.,melt compounding and solution casting,which were named as m PCL/oib-POSS and s PCL/oibPOSS,respectively,in this work.Oib-POSS dispersed finely in both composites;moreover,oib-POSS aggregates were larger in m PCL/oib-POSS than in s PCL/oib-POSS.Despite the different preparation methods,oib-POSS obviously promoted the crystallization of PCL,especially in s PCL/oib-POSS,but did not modify the crystal structure of PCL.The storage moduli of PCL were improved significantly in both composites.PCL/oib-POSS composites with enhanced crystallization behavior and improved dynamic mechanical properties were successfully prepared through both methods;moreover,the solution casting method was more effective than the melt compounding method.