The influence of silicone shell on double-layered microcapsules in intumescent flame-retardant natural rubber composites

The mechanisms of the thermal degradation of polyhedral oligomeric octaphenylsilsesquioxane (OPS), octa(nitrophenyl)silsesquioxane (ONPS), and octa(aminophenyl)silsesquioxane (OAPS) were investigated. The –NO₂ or –NH₂ substituents on the phenyl group affected the mechanism of the POSS thermal degradation. The thermal stabilities of OPS, ONPS, and OAPS were characterized by TG and FTIR. Thermal degradation of OPS included mainly the degradation of caged polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane structures and phenyl groups. Nitro or amino substituents decreased its thermal stability. The thermal degradation processes of OPS, ONPS, and OAPS differed. Phenyl groups and cyclobutadiene were observed in the OPS degradation products. Oxygen radicals that caused intensive CO₂ release between 350 and 450 °C were generated by the degradation of ONPS –NO₂. OAPS released mainly aminophenyl groups at 370 °C, whereas a small number of phenyl groups decomposed at 500 °C. The OAPS reactivity could enhance the thermal stability of POSS structure in the polyimide OAPS composites.     

Co-flame retarding effect of ethanolamine modified titanium-containing polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes in epoxy resin

A metal-doped organic and inorganic hybrid polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) with a titanium atom in the POSS cage and an ethanolamine substitute group in the corner, namely MEA-Ti-POSS, was synthesized through simple condensation reaction and substitute reaction. It was blended with 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO) to form a kind of blending-type flame retardant system for the modification of epoxy resins. The thermal stability, flame retardancy and mechanical properties of cured epoxy resin composites were studied. Comparing with pure epoxy resin, the LOI value of EP/MEA-Ti-POSS/DOPO composites was raised from 25.2% to 32.7%, and the UL-94 grade reached V-0 level at a loading of the mixture of 5% MEA-Ti-POSS and 5% DOPO. In addition, the cone calorimetry results showed that the heat release rate, total heat release and total smoke production as well as smoke production rate were all reduced during the combustion of EP/MEA-Ti-POSS/DOPO composites. The residual char analysis revealed that carbon residues of EP/MEA-Ti-POSS/DOPO composite served as a physical protective layer to insulate the oxygen and combustible gases to reduce the ablation of the matrix. It was concluded that the mixture of MEA-Ti-POSS and DOPO not only effectively raised the thermal stability and flame retardancy of epoxy composited materials, but also improved their mechanical properties, which expanded a promising application of the metal-POSS derivatives as non-halogen additives in the flame retardant polymers.     

Flame retardant epoxy composites with epoxy‐containing polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes

A kind of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) containing the propoxyl‐epoxy and phenyl groups (pr‐ep‐Ph‐POSS) was synthesized via hydrolytic condensation reaction. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry identified the structure of the pr‐ep‐Ph‐POSS, including major caged Si₆O₉ (T6), Si₁₀O₁₅ (T10), Si₁₂O₁₈ (T12), etc. The pr‐ep‐Ph‐POSS was applied into the epoxy resin to achieve EP/pr‐ep‐Ph‐POSS composites. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that EP/pr‐ep‐Ph‐POSS showed excellent thermal properties than pure EP. The fire behaviors of EP/pr‐ep‐Ph‐POSS composites were evaluated based on the cone calorimetry, limiting oxygen index (LOI), UL‐94 vertical burning test, and smoke density test. The smoke density decreased by ~30%, the LOI value reached to 26.4%, dripping was inhibited, and the peak of heat release rate decreased by ~62%. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis and FTIR indicated that protective‐barrier effect is the main flame‐retardant mode of action for pr‐ep‐Ph‐POSS, due to the formation of the Si‐O‐Si, Si‐O‐C, and Si‐C condensed phase, which improve the thermal stability, strength, and integrity of the char layer.     

Flame retardancy mechanisms of phosphorus‐containing polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (DOPO‐POSS) in polycarbonate/acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene blends

The flame retardancy mechanisms of a novel polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane containing 9,10‐dihydro‐9‐oxa‐10‐phosphaphenanthrene‐10‐oxide (DOPO‐POSS) in polycarbonate/acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene (PC/ABS) blends are discussed. The thermal stability of PC/ABS composites with different DOPO‐POSS loadings are investigated by TGA and the enhancement of the thermal stability could be found at high temperature range. Their fire behavior is tested by the LOI, UL‐94, and cone calorimeter. Excellent flame retardancy of PC/ABS composites have been discovered with 10 wt% DOPO‐POSS loading. TGA‐FTIR, FTIR, XPS, and SEM, respectively, are used to characterize the gaseous products and the condensed residue in thermal decomposition, and the micro‐structure of the chars from cone calorimeter tests. The decomposition of PC/ABS with 10 wt% DOPO‐POSS shows significant changes compared with PC/ABS by TGA, FTIR, TGA‐FTIR, and XPS analysis. The enhancement of the thermal‐oxidative stability of PC/ABS with DOPO‐POSS is attributed to the interaction between DOPO‐POSS and PC/ABS at high temperature, which might be the key for improvement of the flame retardancy. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Crystallization and flame‐retardant properties of polylactic acid composites with polyhedral octaphenyl silsesquioxane

To develop environmental‐friendly and flame‐retarded polymer composites, bio‐based polylactic acid (PLA) was loaded with thermally stable polyhedral octaphenyl silsesquioxane (OPS). Pure PLA and PLA/OPS composites with the OPS of 1, 3, 5, and 10 wt% were prepared by extrusion and injection molding, respectively. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM), polarized optical microscope (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to analyze the dispersion of the OPS in the PLA matrix and the effects of OPS on the crystallization and thermal stability properties of PLA/OPS composites, respectively. Limited oxygen index (LOI) and cone calorimeter (CONE) measurements were used to study flame retardancy of PLA and PLA/OPS composites. In order to study the flame‐retardant mechanism, the char residues were investigated by SEM, Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). TGA‐FTIR was used to analyze the gaseous products of their thermal decomposition. The results show that the OPS particles were submicron in the PLA and could increase the crystallization rate of PLA and form small‐sized secondary α‐form crystalline compared with the pure PLA spherulite. The PLA and OPS decomposed individually in the PLA/OPS composites by TGA. According to the LOI tests, the PLA with the OPS loading exhibited very small reduction of LOI. However, the CONE tests indicated that the OPS could improve the flame retardancy of the PLA by means of low peak heat release rate and average heat release rate. It was obtained that the degree and type of the PLA crystalline for the pure PLA and PLA/OPS affect their flame retardancy. In the max thermal decomposition stage of PLA and PLA/OPS, their gaseous products were similar; at high temperatures, the PLA/OPS produced simple and clear gaseous products of PLA with solid SiO₂ in the gas phase.     

Preparation and Flame Retardancy of Polyurethane/POSS Nanocomposites

Polyurethane/polyhedral oligomeric sisesquioxane (PU/POSS) nanocomposites were syn-thesized via polymerization utilizing the compatibility between POSS nanoparticles and 4,4'-diphenyl methylene diisocyanate. Scanning electron microscope images and Fouriertransform infrared spectra revealed that POSS nanoparticles were dispersed in PU matrix.Thermal gravimetric analysis was employed to investigate the thermal decomposition be-havior of PU/POSS nanocomposites at elevated temperatures. Then fire performance wasevaluated by limiting oxygen index, underwriters laboratories 94 testing and char residue morphology. These results showed that the addition of POSS promoted the formation of char residues which were covered on the surface of polymer composites, leading to the im-provement of thermal stability and flame retardancy.     

硅倍半氧烷改性聚酰亚胺(PI/Si)复合膜性能

通过在聚酰亚胺(PI)中分别添加笼型八氨基苯基硅倍半氧烷(OAPS)、 笼型八苯基硅倍半氧烷(OPS)、 梯形聚苯基硅倍半氧烷(PPSQ)和无机纳米SiO₂, 制备了4种含硅聚酰亚胺(PI/Si)复合膜. 对PI/Si复合膜的相容性、 力学性能、 热性能和阻燃性能进行了研究. 结果表明, OAPS与PI间展现出较好的相容性, PPSQ次之, 而OPS, SiO₂与PI的相容性较差; 但相容性与复合膜的力学和热性能无明显的对应关系. SiO₂可提高PI的力学性能; PI/OAPS复合膜的T_g最高; OAPS, PPSQ或SiO₂的加入使PI复合膜的热稳定性稍有提高, 而少量OPS的加入大大降低PI膜的热稳定性. 这类PI/Si复合膜的显著特点是能够大幅提高PI膜的极限氧指数, 含硅化合物能够增加PI燃烧后残炭量, 使残炭的形貌得到显著改善. PI/Si复合膜在燃烧过程中在表面形成一层白色含硅包裹层, 起到隔热隔氧及保护内层有机物不被燃烧的作用. 硅倍半氧烷对炭层形貌的改善显著, 展现出比SiO₂更好的阻燃性能.     

硅倍半氧烷改性聚酰亚胺(PI/Si)复合膜性能简

通过在聚酰亚胺(PI)中分别添加笼型八氨基苯基硅倍半氧烷(OAPS)、笼型八苯基硅倍半氧烷(OPS)、梯形聚苯基硅倍半氧烷(PPSQ)和无机纳米SiO2,制备了4种含硅聚酰亚胺(PI/Si)复合膜. 对PI/Si复合膜的相容性、力学性能、热性能和阻燃性能进行了研究. 结果表明,OAPS与PI间展现出较好的相容性,PPSQ次之,而OPS,SiO2与PI的相容性较差;但相容性与复合膜的力学和热性能无明显的对应关系. SiO2可提高PI的力学性能;PI/OAPS复合膜的Tg最高;OAPS,PPSQ或SiO2的加入使PI复合膜的热稳定性稍有提高,而少量OPS的加入大大降低PI膜的热稳定性. 这类PI/Si复合膜的显著特点是能够大幅提高PI膜的极限氧指数,含硅化合物能够增加PI燃烧后残炭量,使残炭的形貌得到显著改善. PI/Si复合膜在燃烧过程中在表面形成一层白色含硅包裹层,起到隔热隔氧及保护内层有机物不被燃烧的作用. 硅倍半氧烷对炭层形貌的改善显著,展现出比SiO2更好的阻燃性能.     

Mechanical and flame‐retardant properties and thermal decomposition of vinyl ester resin modified by different phenyl silsesquioxanes

The mechanical properties and fire resistance of vinyl ester resin (VER) composites containing cage‐shaped octaphenyl silsesquioxane (OPS), incompletely cage‐shaped phenyl silsesquioxane (PhT₇POSS), and ladder‐shaped phenyl silsesquioxane (PPSQ) were investigated. The POSS structure and dispersion have a great influence on the mechanical properties, thermal stability, and decomposition process of VER composites. The bending strength at break and modulus of the VER‐POSS composites were enhanced obviously, especially for VER‐PPSQ composite and VER‐OPS composite, respectively. In addition, PhT₇POSS‐based VER composites revealed the lower values of the peak heat release rate, total heat release, and total smoke release in cone calorimetry tests due to the formation of dense carbon/silica protective layers that acted as a barrier to heat and mass transfer. Moreover, the flame‐retardant mechanisms of condensed phase and gas phase were also investigated in detail. These results illustrate VERs modified by OPS, PhT₇POSS, and PPSQ are providing an applicable method to fabricate the composites with excellent flame‐retardant and mechanical properties.     

倍半硅氧烷改性环氧树脂的研究进展

倍半硅氧烷是近年发展起来的一种分子水平的有机无机杂化材料。文章介绍了倍半硅氧烷的结构、合成以及笼型倍半硅氧烷（POSS）基高分子复合材料的结构及合成方法。倍半硅氧烷改性聚合物可以提高聚合物的热性能、阻燃性能和物理机械性能等。文章综述了倍半硅氧烷改性环氧树脂的研究进展。     

Mechanical and thermal properties and flame retardancy of phosphorus-containing polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (DOPO-POSS)/polycarbonate composites

A novel polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane containing 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO-POSS) has been incorporated into polycarbonate (PC) composites in order to study its effect on mechanical and thermal properties and flame retardancy. The mechanical and thermal properties of the DOPO-POSS/PC composites have been investigated by tensile and flexural testing, DSC, and DMA. Slight enhancements of yield stress, and flexural strength and modulus, and obvious decreases of fracture strength and strain of the DOPO-POSS/PC composites were observed with an increase in DOPO-POSS loading. The glass transition temperatures (T_g) of the composites were reduced with increasing DOPO-POSS loading. The morphology of the PC composites was evaluated by SEM, which indicated that the DOPO-POSS was dispersed with a particle size of 100-250 nm in the PC matrix. The thermal degradation behaviour and flame retardancies of PC composites with different DOPO-POSS loadings were investigated by TGA, LOI, UL-94 standard, and cone calorimetry. The composite had an LOI value of 30.5 and a UL-94 rating V-0 when the content of DOPO-POSS was 4%.     

Flame retardant and mechanism of vinyl ester resin modified by octaphenyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane

Flamability is one of the major issues for utilization of bisphenol A–type vinyl ester resin (VER) polymeric composites in practical applications. The thermal stability and mechanical property of VER composites containing octaphenyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (OPS) were investigated and discussed in detail. With increasing the mass ratio of OPS, the residues yield at 800°C and bending strength at break of the VER/OPS composites were enhanced, accompanied with the gradually decreased values of the peak heat release rate, total heat release, and total smoke release due to the formation of dense carbon/silica protective layers that acted as a barrier to heat and mass transfer. In addition, the flame‐retardant mechanisms of condensed phase and gas phase were analyzed by XPS, TGA‐FTIR, and GC‐MS. The results showed that when OPS was incorporated to the resin matrix, the characteristic peaks intensity of the gaseous products was reduced obviously due to some of the characteristic groups still retained in condensed phase. Therefore, the significance of this work is providing an optional method to fabricate flame‐retarding VER composites with excellent mechanical properties.     

Bridged polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS): A potential member of silsequioxanes

Two novel and well-defined polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes（POSS） with two same Si₈O₁₂ cores and a reactive NH group, namely bridged-POSS（2a and 2b）,have been prepared by the traditional ’corner-capping’ reaction.X-ray diffraction demonstrates that those two POSS have the similar T₈ structure.From the thermo-gravimetric analysis,bridged-POSS shows the belter thermal degradation stability than the contrastive POSS.     

Flame retardancy of epoxy resin nanocomposite with a novel polymeric nanoflame retardant

A wrapped nanoflame retardant, designated as polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)‐poly(4‐bromostyrene) (PBS)‐carbon nanotubes (CNTs), was synthesized via π‐π stacking interactions between the walls of multiwalled carbon nanotubes and the silicon‐bromine containing hybrid copolymer (designated as POSS‐PBS) that was copolymerized by 4‐bromostyrene and acryloyloxyisobutyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane. The POSS‐PBS‐CNTs exhibited good dispersibility in epoxy resin (EP) without obvious aggregation. Furthermore, the fire behaviors of this flame‐retardant EP (FR‐EP) nanocomposites were examined via limited oxygen index (LOI) and cone calorimeter (CONE) tests. The FR‐EP had an ideal LOI value of 35.3% and its residual char yield obtained from CONE test was significantly enhanced from 5.9% to 15.3% with the incorporation of 4 wt% POSS‐PBS‐CNTs and 1.33 wt% Sb₂O₃ into EP matrix. Additionally, the addition of 4 wt% POSS‐PBS‐CNTs or POSS‐PBS can efficiently decrease the peak heat release rate (PHRR) of EP matrix by 41.0% or 45.6%, respectively.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel PDMS nanocomposites using POSS derivatives as cross‐linking filler

We report the synthesis and characterization of novel elastomeric nanocomposites containing polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) as both the cross‐linker and filler within a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymer matrix. These polymer composites were prepared through the reaction of octasilane‐POSS (OS‐POSS) with vinyl‐terminated PDMS chains using hydrosilylation chemistry. In addition, larger super‐POSS cross‐linkers, consisting of two pendant hepta(isobutyl)POSS molecules attached to a central octasilane‐POSS core, were also used in the fabrication of the PDMS composites. The chemical incorporation of these POSS cross‐linkers into the PDMS network was verified by solid‐state ¹H magic angle spinning NMR. Based on dynamic mechanical analysis, the PDMS nanocomposites prepared with the octafunctional OS‐POSS cross‐linker exhibited enhanced mechanical properties relative to polymer systems prepared with the tetrafunctional TDSS cross‐linker at equivalent loading levels. The observed improvements in mechanical properties can be attributed to the increased dimensionality of the POSS cross‐linker. The PDMS elastomers synthesized from the larger super‐POSS molecule showed improved mechanical properties relative to both the TDSS and OS‐POSS composites due to the increased volume‐fraction of POSS filler in the polymer matrix. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 2589–2596, 2009     

Interfacial strength and mechanisms of silicone resin composites reinforced with 2 different polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes/carbon fiber hybrids

Grafting nanoscale reinforcement onto macrolevel carbon fiber (CF) surface is an efficient approach to improve interfacial strength and properties of composites. In the research, 2 different polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS)/CF hybrids have been prepared by a facile 2‐step method. Carbon fiber was grafted with aniline groups by aryl diazonium reaction using water as the reaction medium, and then separately functionalized with glycidyllsobutyl POSS (EP0418) or glycidyl POSS (EP0409) by the chemical bonding. Characterization of fiber surface structures before and after modification confirmed the covalent bonding nature between both kinds of POSS and CF. Atomic force microscopy images showed the uniform distributions of EP0418 or EP0409 modified on the fiber surface and the similar enhanced degree of surface roughness (89.3 and 88.7 nm). Dynamic contact angle tests showed that EP0409‐grafted CF (CF‐g‐EP0409) had lower contact angles and higher surface free energy than those of EP0418‐grafted CF (CF‐g‐EP0418). Interfacial strength and hydrothermal aging resistance of composites enhanced significantly after POSS modification, especially for CF‐g‐EP0409 composites. Interfacial reinforcing mechanisms of composites reinforced with 2 different POSS/CF hybrids have also been analyzed and compared.     

Use of a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)-imidazolium cation as an organic modifier for montmorillonite

Recent studies on organically modified clays (OMCs) have reported enhanced thermal stabilities when using imidazolium-based surfactants over the typical ammonium-based surfactants. Other studies have shown that polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) also improve the thermal properties of composites containing these macromers. In an attempt to utilize the beneficial properties of both imidazolium surfactants and POSS macromers, a dual nanocomposite approach to prepare OMCs was used. In this study, the preparation of a new POSS-imidazolium surfactant and its use as an organic modifier for montmorillonite are reported. The purity, solubility, and thermal characteristics of the POSS-imidazolium chloride were evaluated. In addition, several OMCs were prepared by exchanging the Na+ with POSS imidazolium cations equivalent to 100%, 95%, 40%, 20%, and 5% of the cation exchange capacity of the clay. The subsequent OMCs were characterized using thermal analysis techniques (DSC, SDT, and TGA) as well as 29Si NMR to determine the POSS content in the clay interlayer both before and after thermal oxidation degradation. Results indicate the following: (1) the solvent choice changes the efficiency of the ion-exchange reaction of the clay; (2) self-assembled crystalline POSS domains are present in the clay interlayer; (3) the d-spacing of the exchanged clay is large (3.6 nm), accommodating a bilayer structure of the POSS-imidazolium; and (4) the prepared POSS-imidazolium exchanged clays exhibit higher thermal stabilities than any previously prepared imidazolium or ammonium exchanged montmorillonite.     

Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxanes (POSS)-based Hybrid Materials: Molecular Design,Solution Self-Assembly and Biomedical Applications

Owing to the tremendous advantages and unique well-defined nanoscale structure,polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) have received considerable interest ...     

Recent Advances in Polyurethane/POSS Hybrids for Biomedical Applications

Advanced organic-inorganic materials-composites, nanocomposites, and hybrids with various compositions offer unique properties required for biomedical applications. One of the most promising inorganic (nano)additives are polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS); their biocompatibility, non-toxicity, and phase separation ability that modifies the material porosity are fundamental properties required in modern biomedical applications. When incorporated, chemically or physically, into polyurethane matrices, they substantially change polymer properties, including mechanical properties, surface characteristics, and bioactivity. Hence, this review is dedicated to POSS-PU composites that have recently been developed for applications in the biomedical field. First, different modes of POSS incorporation into PU structure have been presented, then recent developments of PU/POSS hybrids as bio-active composites for scaffolds, cardiovascular stents, valves, and membranes, as well as in bio-imaging and cancer treatment, have been described. Finally, characterization and methods of modification routes of polyurethane-based materials with silsesquioxanes were presented.     

Polypropylene-POSS Nanocomposites: Morphology and Crystallization Behaviour

Nanocomposites of isotactic polypropylene (PP) with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) [RSiO_1,5]₈ having different alkyl substituents (R = methyl, isobutyl, isooctyl) were obtained by melt blending and analysed with electron microscopy, optical microscopy and DSC calorimetry. The influence of POSS structure on the morphological characteristics, the crystallization and melting behaviour of PP/POSS composites was investigated with varying the filler amount. The crystallization kinetics of the composites from the melt, examined both in isothermal and non-isothermal conditions, demonstrated that the nucleation activity of the examined POSS can be related to the length of alkyl substituents which, depending on the loading amount, affect the filler dispersion in the PP matrix and the growth of polymer crystals.