Synthesis of poly(4-vinylphenol) (PVPh) and polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes-poly(4-vinylphenol) (POSS-PVPh) with low surface energy and their surface properties

► PVPh and POSS-PVPh with low surface energies have been synthesized. ► The surface properties of PVPh and POSS-PVPh were manipulated. ► The surface energies of PVPh after thermal treatment of 180 °C for 24 h can be less than 20 mJ m −2. ► The surface energies of POSS-PVPh without thermal treatment can be less than 25 mJ m −2. In this paper, we have synthesized poly(4-vinylphenol) (PVPh) and polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes-poly(4-vinylphenol) (POSS-PVPh) with low surface energies and investigated their surface properties. Experimental results reveal that the surface properties of PVPh and POSS-PVPh can be manipulated with the length of PVPh segment and POSS contents, respectively, resulting in the variation of intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions. In addition, the surface energies of PVPh after thermal treatment of 180 °C for 24 h can be less than 20 mJ m −2 and those of POSS-PVPh without thermal treatment can be less than 25 mJ m −2 while those of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) are 22 mJ m −2.