Jiwon Choi, A. F. Yee, R. Laine
Jun 21, 2003
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0
Influential Citations
233
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
Macromolecules
Abstract
Standard research protocols were developed to explore the use of octahedral silsesquioxane (cube) organic/inorganic nanocomposites as model systems for determining nanostructure−processing−property relationships to demonstrate that nanoscale structural manipulation of the organic component can significantly change macroscale physical properties. Comparison of octaglycidyldimethylsiloxyoctasilsesquioxane [(glycidyl-Me2SiOSiO1.5)8] (OG)/diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM) and octa(ethylcyclohexylepoxide)dimethylsiloxy silsesquioxane (OC)/DDM nanocomposite resins provide the first demonstration that well-defined nanostructures can be formed wherein linear organic tethers of known structure join only two cube vertices. HF dissolution of cubes followed by GPC analysis demonstrates that only linear tethers form in OC/DDM. TEM studies suggest that these nanocomposites are homogeneous at the nanometer scale, thus supporting the chemical analysis studies. The physical properties of these nanocomposites were then systemat...