Fluoroelastomer Copolymers Incorporating Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane

The aggregation of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) in copolymers was studied by incorporation of POSS into fluorinated copolymers, namely poly(octafluoropentyl acrylate) elastomers. The aggregation of POSS in copolymers affords unique materials. Studies of these novel polymers show POSS aggregates in these copolymers with both the phenyl and isobutyl peripheries, as the chain‐repulsive fluorinated chains help drive this aggregation. The isooctylPOSS copolymers, however, do not have POSS aggregation. Thermal studies of these copolymers also show an increase in the decomposition temperature by incorporation of POSS, which is directly dependent on the POSS periphery.