Synthesis of POSS-polyurethane hybrids using octakis(m-isoprenyl-[alpha],[alpha]'-dimeth ylbenzylisocyanato dimethylsiloxy) octasilsesquioxane (Q sub(8)M sub(8) super(TMI )) as a crosslinking agent

A series of polyurethane hybrid networks have been synthesized using octakis(m-isoprenyl-[alpha],[alpha]'-dimeth ylbenzylisocyanato dimethylsiloxy) octasilsesquioxane (Q sub(8)M sub(8) super(TMI )) as a crosslinking agent. The formation of the urethane linkages within the polyurethane hybrids was confirmed by photoacoustic FTIR spectroscopy. The TGA and DSC studies demonstrated that the incorporation of the POSS crosslinking agents altered the thermal properties of the polyurethanes, and that this was dependent on the length of the polyethylene glycol chain. [copy 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 5038-5045 A series of polyurethane polymers containing POSS cages have been synthesized by the formation of the urethane bond between octa(m-isopropenyl-[alpha],[alpha]'-dimethy lbenzylisocyanato) octakis(dimethylsilyloxy) octasilsesquioxane (POSS super(TMI)) and various molecular weight poly(ethylene glycols). The novel hybrid POSS-polyurethane materials were examined for their thermal properties by both TGA and DSC. The TGA and DSC studies demonstrated that the incorporation of the POSS crosslinking agents altered the thermal properties of the polyurethanes, and that this was dependent on the length of the polyethylene glycol chain.