Epoxy Elastomers Modified with Silsesquioxane.

This study aimed at investigating into possible applications of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) as fillers of epoxy elastomers. Detailed studies were carried out for octakis[(3-glycidyloxypropyl) ­dimethylosiloxy]octasilsesquioxane (POSS-OG). The elastic epoxy materials consisted of diglycidyl ethers of 1,4-butanediol or 1,6-hexanediol, crosslinked with polyoxypropylenediamine Jeffamine D2000. The results obtained by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMA), and rheological measurements made it possible to establish the effect of POSS-OG modifier on the properties of the material. The silsesquioxane modifier was found to enhance the elasticity of the resulting polymers and reduced gelation time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]