title: Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane (POSS)-Containing Polymer Nanocomposites.
abstract: Hybrid materials with superior structural and functional properties can be obtained by incorporating nanofillers into polymer matrices. Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) nanoparticles have attracted much attention recently due to their nanometer size, the ease of which these particles can be incorporated into polymeric materials and the unique capability to reinforce polymers. We review here the state of POSS-containing polymer nanocomposites. We discuss the influence of the incorporation of POSS into polymer matrices via chemical cross-linking or physical blending on the structure of nanocomposites, as affected by surface functional groups, and the POSS concentration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York (SUNY), Buffalo, NY 14260-4200, USA. eaa23@buffalo.edu.
authors.forename: Ebunoluwa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ayandele
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York (SUNY), Buffalo, NY 14260-4200, USA. bsarkar@buffalo.edu.
authors.forename: Biswajit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York (SUNY), Buffalo, NY 14260-4200, USA. palexand@buffalo.edu.
authors.forename: Paschalis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alexandridis
keywords: hybrid polymer; inorganic-organic nanocomposites; mechanical properties; polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS); thermal stability