Characterisation of Silsesquioxane-Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) blends

Abstract

Silsesquioxanes are a novel hybrid material that have advantageous properties intermediate of polymers and ceramics, due to their inorganic-organic molecular structure. Current research has focused on the potential of this hybrid to enhance conventional materials. Through the incorporation of Silsesquioxanes in their various forms when used as coatings, additives and copolymers dramatic property enhancements have been seen. Recent research has been aimed at investigating whether these enhancements are also seen when Silsesquioxanes are blended with polymeric systems. In research to date property enhancements have been reported, but at present there is limited fundamental understanding of the relationship between the components which are promoting these enhancements. This study aims to investigate the effects on PMMA when solution blended with Vitolane™ resin containing Silsesquioxanes with high acrylate functionality. Through FTIR, DSC and SEM it was found that the inclusion of this species did have an effect on PMMA. Most noticeably a decrease in Tg was seen in the lower inclusion compositions, 1wt%-10wt% Vitolane™, but with little visual evidence of Vitolane’s presence within PMMA, highlighting the complex nature of the relationship between the two components. Initially it has been concluded that the Silsesquioxanes within Vitolane™ cause a plasticization effect in the lower inclusion compositions