Nanocomposites and nanomaterials

POSS-containing nanocomposites based on polyurethane and  poly(hydroxypropyl methacrylate) semi-interpenetrating polymer networks 
L.V.Karabanova1, L.A.Honcharova1,N.V. Babkina1,V.I. Sapsay2,              D.O. Klymchuk2
1 Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. 48, Kharkov Road, Kyiv, 02160, Ukraine
E-mail:lyudmyla_karaban@ukr.net
2N.G. Kholodny Institute of Botany of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
2, Tereshchenkivs’ka str., Kyiv, 01601, Ukraine
The impact of different amount of the 1,2-propandiolisobutyl-POSS, used as inorganic nanofiller with reactive OH-groups in the system, on the dynamic mechanical behaviour, thermodynamic miscibility and morphology of the nanocomposites based on semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (semi-IPNs) of the crosslinked polyurethane (PU) and linear poly(hydroxypropyl methacrylate) (PHPMA) have been investigated. 
 The structure of the created materials were characterized with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. FTIR spectra showed the chemical bonding of the nanofiller POSS-diol and PU component of the matrix.
         Thermal properties were studied  using DSC and TGA. Inclusion of POSS nanofiller into the matrix was found results in increased  thermal stability of the created nanocomposites. 
		Fig.1The temperature dependences of tan δ (a), and the relation of nanocomposite’s storage modulus to matrix’s modulus Mn/Mo versus POSS content (b).	
        By DMA was shown that introduction of POSS into the matrix  results in increased (1.5-3 times) storage moduli of the nanocomposites depend on amount of POSS.Investigation by SEM have shown that POSS-diol acts as nanostructuring agent in the system. As a result, the nanocomposites with more ordered structure are formed leading to obtaining of materials with improved mechanical properties.