Evaluation of physicochemical properties of a new group of SiO 2 /silane/POSS hybrid materials

Preparation of a new group of hybrid fillers, of SiO 2 /silane/oligomeric silsesquioxane type, characterised by specific desirable physicochemical properties, was studied. Synthetic SiO 2 was precipitated by the emulsion method. At first, as a result of improved adhesion between SiO 2 and selected POSS compound, SiO 2 surface was functionalised with alkoxysilanes containing characteristics functional groups. Functionalised SiO 2 was used in the process of hybrid filler preparation according to hydrolytic condensation using methacryl POSS® mixture. To evaluate potential application of such fillers, SiO 2 systems, bifunctionalised using innovative method, were thoroughly characterised to determine their physicochemical properties as well as the effectiveness of functionalisation with silanes and POSS compound. Proposed method of SiO 2 surface modification using selected alkoxysilanes and oligosilsesquioxanes is innovative and gives very promising results. Bifunctionalisation of inorganic fillers with those compounds will substantially extended the range of their applications and probably will lead to improvement of mechanical properties of final polymer composites and reduction in the cost of their production which is the main feature of this research. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.