The Rediscovery of POSS: A Molecule Rather than a Filler

POSS hybrid bioactive glass dental composite resin materials: Synthesis and analysis

INTRODUCTION

This study create a dental composite by hybirding polyhedral oligo-sesquioxide nano monomers and bioactive glass BG 45S5.

METHODS

Make an experimental composite resin material with a 60 % filler content overall by substituting 20 % of the filler with BG 45S5. The experimental resins are grouped and named P0, P2, P4, P6 and P8 based on the reactive nanomonomer methacrylic acid-based multifaceted oligomeric sesquisiloxane (POSS) added by 2 %-8 % in the resin matrix portion of each group. Utilize a universal testing machine to analyze and compare the mechanical properties of these, then perform Fourier infrared spectrum analysis, double bond conversion analysis, and scanning electron microscope analysis. Based on this, after soaking the experimental materials artificial saliva solution or lactic acid solution for a while, the pH changes of the solution, the release of Ca2+ and PO43- ions, and the precipitation of apatite on the resin material's surface were tested and analyzed. Cell viability tests were used to assess sample cell viability and quantify the cytotoxicity of biological cells. The independent sample t-test was used to examine the group comparisons, and a difference was considered statistically significant at P<0.05.

RESULTS

Outstanding mechanical and the double bond conversion are demonstrated by the nanocomposites when the POSS concentration hits 4 wt%. Agglomeration will cause the performance to deteriorate if the concentration beyond this threshold. In the P4 group, the double bond conversion, CS, and FS rose by a large margin, respectively, in comparison to the blank control group P0. Thankfully, the data demonstrate that adding POSS increases adhesive ability when compared to the blank group P0, however, there is no discernible difference between the other experimental groups. The acid neutralization capacity of the P4 group is essentially the same as that of the control group (P0). Ca2+ and PO43- ions are released in significant amounts following treatment with lactic acid solution, although this tendency is clearly less pronounced in artificial saliva. SEM and EDX data indicate that when the experimental resin is soaked in lactic acid solution and artificial saliva, apatite precipitation will happen on its surface. The results of the cell viability test indicated that there was no statistically significant difference between the experimental groups, and the viability of the cells increased after 24hours and 48 hours.

CONCLUSIONS

POSS was included into the composite resin along with 20% bioactive glass as a filler. When the proportion of POSS is less than 4%, the indices of composite resin materials rise in a dose-dependent way. When this value is surpassed, performance begins to deteriorate. The inclusion of POSS has no influence on the biological activity of the composites, which means that the hybrid composite resin is capable of acid neutralization, ion release, and apatite precipitation.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The experimental composite resin can be used as an intelligent material in clinical treatment. It has the clinical application potential of preventing demineralization of tooth hard tissue, promoting remineralization, and improving edge sealing through apatite precipitation.

Examining the Water-Polymer Interactions in Non-Isocyanate Polyurethane/Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane Hybrid Hydrogels

Non-isocyanate polyurethane (NIPU) networks physically modified with octa(3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyldimethylsiloxy)POSS (8OHPOSS, 0-10 wt%) were conditioned in environments of different relative humidities (up to 97%) to study water-polymer interactions. The equilibrium sorption isotherms are of Brunauer type III in a water activity range of 0-0.97 and are discussed in terms of the Guggenheim (GAB) sorption model. The study shows that the introduction of 8OHPOSS, even in a large amount (10 wt%), does not hinder the water affinity of the NIPU network despite the hydrophobic nature of POSS; this is attributable to the homogenous dispersion of POSS in the polymer matrix. The shift in the urethane-derived carbonyl bands toward lower wavenumbers with a simultaneous shift in the urethane N-H bending bands toward higher wavenumbers exposes the breakage of polymer-polymer hydrogen bonds upon water uptake due to the formation of stronger water-polymer hydrogen bonds. Upon water absorption, a notable decrease in the glass transition temperature (Tg) is observed for all studied materials. The progressive reduction in Tg with water uptake is driven by plasticization and slaving mechanisms. POSS moieties are thought to impact slaving indirectly by slightly affecting water uptake at very high hydration levels.

Improvement of Heat Resistance of Fluorosilicone Rubber Employing Vinyl-Functionalized POSS as a Chemical Crosslinking Agent

Fluorosilicone rubber (F-LSR) is a promising material that can be applied in various cutting-edge industries. However, the slightly lower thermal resistance of F-LSR compared with that of conventional PDMS is difficult to overcome by applying nonreactive conventional fillers that readily agglomerate owing to their incompatible structure. Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane with vinyl groups (POSS-V) is a suitable material that may satisfy this requirement. Herein, F-LSR-POSS was prepared using POSS-V as a chemical crosslinking agent chemically bonded with F-LSR through hydrosilylation. All F-LSR-POSSs were successfully prepared and most of the POSS-Vs were uniformly dispersed in the F-LSR-POSSs, as confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements. The mechanical strength and crosslinking density of the F-LSR-POSSs were determined using a universal testing machine (UTM) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), respectively. Finally, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) measurements confirmed that the low-temperature thermal properties were maintained, and the heat resistance was significantly improved compared with conventional F-LSR. Eventually, the poor heat resistance of the F-LSR was overcome with three-dimensional high-density crosslinking by introducing POSS-V as a chemical crosslinking agent, thereby expanding the potential fluorosilicone applications.

Construction of Fluorescent Conjugated Polytriazole Containing Double-Decker Silsesquioxane: Click Polymerization and Thermal Stability

This study synthesized two azide-functionalized monomers through p-dichloro xylene and double-decker silsesquioxane (DDSQ) units with NaN₃ to form DB-N₃ and DDSQ-N₃ monomers, respectively. In addition, five different propargyl-functionalized monomers were also prepared from hydroquinone, bisphenol A, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)methanone, 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (then reacted with hydrazine hydrate solution) and 1,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1,2-diphenylethene with propargyl bromide to form P-B, P-BPA, P-CO, P-NP, and P-TPE monomers, respectively. As a result, various DDSQ-based main chain copolymers could be synthesized using Cu(I)-catalyzed click polymerization through DDSQ-N₃ with different propargyl-functionalized monomers, of which the chemical structure and molecular weight could be confirmed by using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) analyses. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy analyses also could characterize the thermal stability, morphology, and optical behaviors of these DDSQ-based copolymers. All results indicate that the incorporation of an inorganic DDSQ cage could improve the thermal stability such as thermal decomposition temperature and char yield, because of the DDSQ dispersion homogeneously in the copolymer matrix, and this would then affect the optical properties of NP and TPE units in this work.

New Ceramics Precursors Containing Si and Ge Atoms-Cubic Germasilsesquioxanes-Synthesis, Thermal Decomposition and Spectroscopic Analysis

Compounds of the silsesquioxane type are attractive material precursors. High molecular weights and well-defined structures predestine them to create ceramics with a controlled composition at the molecular level. New molecular precursors of ceramic materials with the ratio of Si:Ge = 7:1 atoms were obtained. The influence of organic substituents on the thermal decomposition processes of germasilsesquioxanes was investigated. Some of the structures obtained are characterized by a high non-volatile residue after the thermal decomposition process. The introduction of the germanium atom to the structure of the silsesquioxane molecular cage reduces the thermal stability of the obtained structures.

Silsesquioxanes in the Cosmetics Industry-Applications and Perspectives

The rising demand for innovative and sophisticated personal care products is a driving factor for manufacturers to obtain new formulations that will fulfill the customers' preferences. In recent years, silsesquioxanes have attracted the attention of the cosmetics industry. These compounds have been proposed to be used in novel cosmetic formulations as emollient, dispersant, and viscosity modifiers. Therefore, this publication aims to review the main important aspects of polyhedral oligosilsesquioxanes as ingredients of personal care formulations, taking into consideration different types of products. The methods of obtaining these compounds were also presented. Additionally, the detailed analysis of patents dedicated to the application of silsesquioxanes in cosmetic formulations was also performed.

Polymerization Enhancers for Cyanoacrylate Skin Adhesive

Cyanoacrylate glues are a renowned synthetic tissue sealant that cures rapidly through polymerization at room temperature, felicitating medical glues to treat skin wounds and surgical openings. Despite a wide range of cyanoacrylates available, only 2-octyl cyanoacrylates (OCA) provides the best biocompatibility. In this study, the polymerization and adhesive properties of 2-octyl cyanoacrylates (OCA) are explored in the presence of a highly biocompatible and biochemically inert polymer, poly(ethylene glycol) polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (PEG-POSS). The effect of PEG-POSS on the polymerization of OCA is examined on a plastic surface and over pig skin. A peel-test is performed to evaluate the strength of OCA adhesive properties between two pieces of pig skin samples. Additionally, thin films of OCA are prepared using different fillers and evaluated for tear test. The results reveal that when applied on the plastic or pig skin, PEG-POSS initiated polymerization in OCA yields a high molecular weight OCA polymer with much better adhesive properties compared to commercially available cyanoacrylate adhesives. The relative change in the molecular weights of OCA compared to commercially available cyanoacrylate bioadhesives such as Dermaflex is much higher. The pig skin peeling test shows that OCA needs higher peeling force than Dermaflex.

Silicon-Containing Polymeric Materials

When thinking about a chemical element that has contributed to the technological progress over the last two centuries, carbon and all carbon-based materials immediately come to mind [...].

Kinetic Study of the Thermal and Thermo-Oxidative Degradations of Polystyrene Reinforced with Multiple-Cages POSS

A comprehensive kinetics degradation study is carried out on novel multiple cages polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)/polystyrene (PS) composites at 5% (w/w) of POSS to assess their thermal behavior with respect to the control PS and other similar POSS/PS systems studied in the past. The composites are synthesized by in situ polymerization of styrene in the presence of POSSs and characterized by 1H-NMR. The characteristics of thermal parameters are determined using kinetics literature methods, such as those developed by Kissinger and Flynn, Wall, and Ozawa (FWO), and discussed and compared with each other and with those obtained in the past for similar POSS/PS composites. A good improvement in the thermal stability with respect to neat polymer is found, but not with respect to those obtained in the past for polystyrene reinforced with single- or double-POSS cages. This behavior is attributed to the greater steric hindrance of the three-cages POSS compared with those of single- or double-cage POSS molecules.

The Toxicological Testing and Thermal Decomposition of Drive and Transport Belts Made of Thermoplastic Multilayer Polymer Materials

The article presents the potential impact of flat drive and transport belts on people's safety during a fire. The analysis distinguished belts made of classically used fabric-rubber composite materials reinforced with cord and currently used multilayer polymer composites. Moreover, the products' multilayers during the thermal decomposition and combustion can be a source of emissions for unpredictable and toxic substances with different concentrations and compositions. In the evaluation of the compared belts, a testing methodology was used to determine the toxicometric indicators (W_LC50SM) on the basis of which it was possible to determine the toxicity of thermal decomposition and combustion products in agreement with the standards in force in several countries of the EU and Russia. The analysis was carried out on the basis of the registration of emissions of chemical compounds during the thermal decomposition and combustion of polymer materials at three different temperatures. Moreover, the degradation kinetics of the polymeric belts by using the thermogravimetric (TGA) technique was evaluated. Test results have shown that products of thermal decomposition resulting from the neoprene (NE22), leder leder (LL2), thermoplastic connection (TC), and extra high top cower (XH) belts can be characterized as moderately toxic or toxic. Their toxicity significantly increases with the increasing temperature of thermal decomposition or combustion, especially above 450 °C. The results showed that the belts made of several layers of polyamide can be considered the least toxic in fire conditions. The TGA results showed that NBR/PA/PA/NBR belt made with two layers of polyamide and the acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber has the highest thermal stability in comparison to other belts.

The Effect of POSS Type on the Shape Memory Properties of Epoxy-Based Nanocomposites

Thermally activated shape memory polymers (SMPs) can memorize a temporary shape at low temperature and return to their permanent shape at higher temperature. These materials can be used for light and compact space deployment mechanisms. The control of transition temperature and thermomechanical properties of epoxy-based SMPs can be done using functionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) additives, which are also known to improve the durability to atomic oxygen in the space environment. In this study, the influence of varying amounts of two types of POSS added to epoxy-based SMPs on the shape memory effect (SME) were studied. The first type contained amine groups, whereas the second type contained epoxide groups. The curing conditions were defined using differential scanning calorimetry and glass transition temperature (T_g) measurements. Thermomechanical and SME properties were characterized using dynamic mechanical analysis. It was found that SMPs containing amine-based POSS show higher T_g, better shape fixity and faster recovery speed, while SMPs containing epoxide-based POSS have higher crosslinking density and show superior thermomechanical properties above T_g. This work demonstrates how the T_g and SME of SMPs can be controlled by the type and amount of POSS in an epoxy-based SMP nanocomposite for future space applications.

Preparation and Characterization of Composites Materials with Rubber Matrix and with Polyvinyl Chloride Addition (PVC)

An important problem that arises at present refers to the increase in performances in the exploitation of the conveyor belts. Additionally, it is pursued to use some materials, which can be obtained by recycling rubber and PVC waste, in their structure. Thus, the research aimed at creating conveyor belts using materials obtained from the recycling of rubber and PVC waste. Under these conditions, conveyor belts were made that had in their structure two types of rubber and PVC, which was obtained by adding in certain proportions of reclaimed rubber and powder obtained from grinding rubber waste. In order to study the effect of adding PVC on properties, four types of conveyor belts were made, with the structure of rubber, PVC and textile reinforcement. These have been subjected to certain mechanical tests, also being analyzed from the point of view of the behavior of the accelerated aging. The results obtained showed that the addition of PVC lead to a decrease in tensile stress for the strips made, but also an increase in the tensile strain. Additionally, the elasticity tests performed before and after the accelerated aging showed that the presence of PVC in the structure of the conveyor belts determined a substantial reduction of the aging process of the rubber in the conveyor belts. Under these conditions, it has been established that the use of PVC in the structure of rubber matrix conveyor belts is beneficial if conveyor belts are to be produced that are less subject to mechanical stress, but that work in conditions that can cause accelerated aging of materials. An analysis with the finite element method (FEM) of the test samples was also performed.

Design, Preparation and Thermal Characterization of Polystyrene Composites Reinforced with Novel Three-Cages POSS Molecules

Novel polystyrene (PS)/polyhedral oligomeric silsequioxanes (POSSs) nanocomposites were designed and prepared by in situ polymerization, using, for the first time, three-cage POSS molecules. The synthesized compounds were first characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and ¹H NMR spectroscopy to verify the obtaining of the designed products before their thermal performance was evaluated and compared with those of pristine PS and the corresponding single-cage POSSs nanocomposites. The thermal behaviour was checked by the means of the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was also used to confirm the hypothesis about the dispersion/aggregation of the POSS molecules into the polymer matrix. The parameters chosen to evaluate the thermal stability of the investigated compounds, namely temperature at 5% of mass loss (T_5%) and solid residue at 700 °C, showed a significant increase in the stability of the polymers reinforced with the three-cages POSS, in comparison to both PS and single-cage POSS reinforced PSs, which therefore turn out to be promising molecular fillers for nanocomposite production.

Potential Natural Fiber Polymeric Nanobiocomposites: A Review

Composite materials reinforced with biofibers and nanomaterials are becoming considerably popular, especially for their light weight, strength, exceptional stiffness, flexural rigidity, damping property, longevity, corrosion, biodegradability, antibacterial, and fire-resistant properties. Beside the traditional thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers, nanoparticles are also receiving attention in terms of their potential to improve the functionality and mechanical performances of biocomposites. These remarkable characteristics have made nanobiocomposite materials convenient to apply in aerospace, mechanical, construction, automotive, marine, medical, packaging, and furniture industries, through providing environmental sustainability. Nanoparticles (TiO2, carbon nanotube, rGO, ZnO, and SiO2) are easily compatible with other ingredients (matrix polymer and biofibers) and can thus form nanobiocomposites. Nanobiocomposites are exhibiting a higher market volume with the expansion of new technology and green approaches for utilizing biofibers. The performances of nanobiocomposites depend on the manufacturing processes, types of biofibers used, and the matrix polymer (resin). An overview of different natural fibers (vegetable/plants), nanomaterials, biocomposites, nanobiocomposites, and manufacturing methods are discussed in the context of potential application in this review.

The Use of Composite Materials in 3D Printing

Nowadays, all production, from the smallest ones to large companies, and research activities are affected by the use of 3D printing technology. The major limitation, in order to cover as many fields of application as possible, is represented by the set of 3D printable materials and their limited spectrum of physico-chemical properties. To expand this spectrum and employ the 3D-printed objects in areas such as biomedical, mechanical, electronical and so on, the introduction of fibers or particles in a polymer matrix has been widely studied and applied. In this review, all those studies that proposed modified polymer presenting advantages associated with rapid prototyping are reported.

R-Silsesquioxane-Based Network Polymers by Fluoride Catalyzed Synthesis: An Investigation of Cross-Linker Structure and Its Influence on Porosity

Silsesquioxane-based networks are an important class of materials that have many applications where high thermal/oxidative stability and porosity are needed simultaneously. However, there is a great desire to be able to design these materials for specialized applications in environmental remediation and medicine. To do so requires a simple synthesis method to make materials with expanded functionalities. In this article, we explore the synthesis of R-silsesquioxane-based porous networks by fluoride catalysis containing methyl, phenyl and vinyl corners (R-Si(OEt)₃) combined with four different bis-triethoxysilyl cross-linkers (ethyl, ethylene, acetylene and hexyl). Synthesized materials were then analyzed for their porosity, surface area, thermal stability and general structure. We found that when a specified cage corner (i.e., methyl) is compared across all cross-linkers in two different solvent systems (dichloromethane and acetonitrile), pore size distributions are consistent with cross-linker length, pore sizes tended to be larger and π-bond-containing cross-linkers reduced overall microporosity. Changing to larger cage corners for each of the cross-linkers tended to show decreases in overall surface area, except when both corners and cross-linkers contained π-bonds. These studies will enable further understanding of post-synthesis modifiable silsesquioxane networks.

Study of POSS on the Properties of Novel Inorganic Dental Composite Resin

: Various amounts of methacryl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) were explored to be incorporated into novel nano SiO₂ dental resin composites using light curing method. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical microscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nanoindentation, nanoscratch and three-point flexure tests were performed. The volumetric shrinkage and mechanical properties such as hardness, elastic modulus, resistance, flexural strength and fracture energy were analyzed. With the additions of POSS, the volume shrinkage decreased and the mechanical properties initially increased. The effects of POSS on these properties were studied to provide a reference for clinically selecting a composite resin with excellent properties.

Main Chain-Type Block Copolymers through Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization from Double-Decker-Shaped Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane Hybrids

In this study, we synthesized two main chain-type block copolymers featuring hydrogen bond donor and acceptor segments through atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) using a bifunctionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) nanoparticle as the initiator. Hydrosilylation of vinylbenzyl chloride at the two corners of a double-decker silsesquioxane (DDSQ) provided the bifunctionalized benzyl chloride initiator VBC-DDSQ-VBC, which we applied as a platform to prepare a main chain-type polystyrene homopolymer (PS-DDSQ-PS), the diblock copolymer poly(styrene-b-4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP-b-PS-DDSQ-PS-b-P4VP), and the diblock copolymer poly(styrene-b-tert-butoxystyrene) (PtBuOS-b-PS-DDSQ-PS-b-PtBuOS) through sequential ATRP. Selective hydrolysis of the tert-butoxyl units of PtBuOS-b-PS-DDSQ-PS-b-PtBuOS yielded the strongly hydrogen bonding diblock copolymer poly (styrene-b-vinylphenol) (PVPh-b-PS-DDSQ-PS-b-PVPh). We used Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, size exclusion chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, mass-analyzed laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry, and transmission electron microscopy to investigate the chemical structures, thermal behavior, and self-assembled nanostructures formed by these main chain-type block copolymers based on DDSQ.

Insertion of Iron Decorated Organic-Inorganic Cage-Like Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxanes between Clay Platelets by Langmuir Schaefer Deposition

Tuning the architecture of multilayer nanostructures by exploiting the properties of their constituents is a versatile way to develop multifunctional films. Herein, we report a bottom-up approach for the fabrication of highly ordered hybrid films consisting of dimethyldioctadecylammonium (DODA), iron decorated polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS), and montmorillonite clay platelets. Clay platelets provided the template where Fe/POSS moieties were grafted by the use of the surfactant. Driven by the iron ions present, DODA adopted a staggered arrangement, which is essential to realize the controllable layer-by-layer growth of the film. The elemental composition of the film was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray reflectivity confirmed the existence of smooth interfaces between the different layers.

Progress in the Synthesis of Bifunctionalized Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane

Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) has been considered as one of the most promising nanofillers in academic and industrial research due to its unique multifunctional nanostructure, easy functionalization, hybrid nature, and high processability. The progress of POSS has been extensive, particularly applications based on single- or multiple-armed POSS. In polymer hybrids, in order to enhance the properties, bifunctional POSS has been incorporated into the backbone chain of the polymer. This review summarizes recent developments in the synthesis, modification, and application of bifunctional POSS-containing composite materials. This includes amino-POSS, hydroxyl-POSS, aromatic ring-POSS, ether-POSS, and vinyl groups-POSS and their applications, exemplified by polyurethanes (PUs) and polyimides (PIs). In addition, the review highlights the enhancement of thermal, mechanical, and optical properties of the composites.

A Selenone-Functionalized Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane for Selective Detection and Adsorption of Hg2+ ions in Aqueous Solutions

Developing novel functional polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) for various applications is highly desirable. Herein we present the first example of a novel selenone-functionalized POSS (POSS-Se) by treating an imidazolium-containing POSS with selenium powder under mild condition. The structure of POSS-Se was characterized by FT-IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, ²⁹Si NMR, and elemental analysis. Acid treatment of POSS-Se results in a hydrophilic red-orange colored solid, which is highly sensitive and selective for the detection of Hg²⁺ ions in aqueous solutions by visually observing the color change to pale yellow, and to white. Interestingly, POSS-Se has no activity on this detection. This finding is due to the Se-Se formation by acid-treatment and subsequent coordination-induced cleavage upon the addition of Hg²⁺ ions. The detection behavior can be precisely monitored by a "turn-on" fluorescence phenomenon with the limit of detection (LOD) of 8.48 ppb, comparable to or higher than many reported Hg²⁺ sensors. Moreover, POSS-Se demonstrates a selective and efficient adsorption of Hg²⁺ ions with a maximum capacity of 952 mg g^-1. The value is higher than most reported adsorbents for Hg²⁺ ions, typically thiol and/or thioether functional materials, indicating its promise as an efficient adsorbent for the selective removal of Hg²⁺ ions from industrial wastewater. This work may open up new horizons for the exploration of selenium-containing functional POSS.

Facile Fabrication of Superhydrophobic Surface from Fluorinated POSS Acrylate Copolymer via One-Step Breath Figure Method and Its Anti-Corrosion Property

Novel fluorinated polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) acrylic copolymers were synthesized by the radical solution polymerization. The superhydrophobic coating was prepared using a one-step breath figure method. Chemical constitution, morphology, hydrophobicity, and anticorrosion ability of as-prepared coatings were investigated by the corresponding equipment. The addition of proper fluorinated POSS can synchronously promote the formation of the micro-nano convex structure and the enrichment of fluorinated groups on the surface. Compared to commercial acrylic coating, the fluorinated POSS coating presented enhanced anticorrosion performance. The impedance was the highest and the corrosion current density was the lowest for superhydrophobic coating with 25 wt % fluorinated POSS.

Using Methacryl-Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane as the Thermal Stabilizer and Plasticizer in Poly(vinyl chloride) Nanocomposites

In this study, we investigated the influence of methacryl-functionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (MA-POSS) nanoparticles as a plasticizer and thermal stabilizer for a poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) homopolymer and for a poly(vinyl chloride)/dissononyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (PVC/DINCH) binary blend system. The PVC and the PVC/DINCH blend both became flexible, with decreases in their glass transition temperatures and increases in their thermal decomposition temperatures, upon an increase in MA-POSS content, the result of hydrogen bonding between the C=O groups of MA-POSS and the H-CCl units of the PVC, as determined using infrared spectroscopy. Furthermore, the first thermal decomposition temperature of the pure PVC, due to the emission of HCl, increased from 290 to 306 °C, that is, the MA-POSS nanoparticles had a retarding effect on the decomposition of the PVC matrix. In tensile tests, all the PVC/DINCH/MA-POSS ternary blends were transparent and displayed flexibility, but their modulus and tensile strength both decreased, while their elongation properties increased, upon an increase in MA-POSS concentration, both before and after thermal annealing. In contrast, the elongation decreased, but the modulus and tensile strength increased, after thermal annealing at 100 °C for 7 days.

Effects of Filler Distribution on Magnetorheological Silicon-Based Composites

The smart materials subclass of magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) composites is presented in this work, which aimed to investigate the influence of filler distribution on surface morphology. Iron particles with sizes ranging from 20 to 150 µm were incorporated into the elastomer matrix and a 30% volume fraction (V%) was chosen as the optimal quantity for the filler amount in the elastomer composite. The surface morphology of MRE composites was examined by 3D micro-computed tomography (µCT) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. Isotropic and anisotropic distributions of the iron particles were estimated in the magnetorheological elastomer composites. The filler particle distribution at various heights of the MRE composites was examined. The isotropic distribution of filler particles was observed without any influence from the magnetic field during sample preparation. The anisotropic arrangement of iron fillers within the MRE composites was observed in the presence of a magnetic field during fabrication. It was shown that the linear arrangement of the iron particle chain induced magnetization within the composite. Simulation analysis was also performed to predict the particle distribution of magnetization in the MREs and make a comparison with the experimental observations.

Polystyrene Nanocomposites Reinforced with Novel Dumbbell-Shaped Phenyl-POSSs: Synthesis and Thermal Characterization

Two series of novel dumbbell-shaped polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSSs), fully functionalized with phenyl groups at the corner of the silicon cages, were used to prepare polystyrene (PS) nanocomposites through the method of in situ polymerization. The percentage of the molecular filler reinforcement was set as 5% w/w of POSS and was checked by ¹H-NMR spectroscopy. The obtained nanocomposites were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Thermal and morphological properties were evaluated and compared among the nanocomposites obtained using the two different series of dumbbell-shaped POSSs and with the net PS. The thermal parameters for the prepared nanocomposites were very high when compared with those of neat PS, and they evidenced significant differences when an aliphatic or aromatic bridge was used to link the silicon cages. SEM analysis results allow us to hypothesize a justification for the different resistance to thermal degradation showed by the two series of molecular reinforcement.

Improving Oxygen Permeability and Thermostability of Polycarbonate via Copolymerization Modification with Bio-Phenol Polysiloxane

As a new kind of functionalized polysiloxane with chemical reactivity, bio-phenol polysiloxane was synthesized through facile heterogeneous catalytic route. Bio-phenol polysiloxane/polycarbonate (Si/PC) block copolymer was synthesized via a three-step approach, and the effect of the amount of bio-phenol polysiloxane on the properties of Si/PC copolymer was then studied. The structure and morphology of Si/PC copolymer were characterized, showing that, when the amount of bio-phenol polysiloxane reached 20%, the pyrolysis temperature of Si/PC copolymer at 5% weight loss was 450.8 °C which was 76.1 °C higher than pure PC. The oxygen permeability of 20%Si/PC copolymer membrane was 502.65 cm³/m²·24h·0.1MPa, which was increased by 128.4% compared with pure PC membrane. The mechanical property and hydrophobicity of Si/PC copolymer had been improved.

POSS Compounds as Modifiers for Rigid Polyurethane Foams (Composites)

Three types of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSSs) with different functional active groups were used to modify rigid polyurethane foams (RPUFs). Aminopropylisobutyl-POSS (AP-POSS), trisilanoisobutyl-POSS (TS-POSS) and octa(3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyldimethylsiloxy-POSS (OH-POSS) were added in an amount of 0.5 wt.% of the polyol weight. The characteristics of fillers including the size of particles, evaluation of the dispersion of particles and their effect on the viscosity of the polyol premixes were performed. Next, the obtained foams were evaluated by their processing parameters, morphology (Scanning Electron Microscopy analysis, SEM), mechanical properties (compressive test, three-point bending test, impact strength), viscoelastic behavior (Dynamic Mechanical Analysis, DMA), thermal properties (Thermogravimetric Analysis, TGA, thermal conductivity) and application properties (contact angle, water absorption). The results showed that the morphology of modified foams is significantly affected by the fillers typology, which resulted in inhomogeneous, irregular, large cell shapes and further affected the physical and mechanical properties of the resulting materials. RPUFs modified with AP-POSS represent better mechanical properties compared to the RPUFs modified with other POSS.

Transparent, High Glass-Transition Temperature, Shape Memory Hybrid Polyimides Based on Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane

Optically transparent polyimides with excellent thermal stability and shape memory effect have potential applications in optoelectronic devices and aerospace industries. A series of optically transparent shape memory polyimide hybrid films are synthesized from 2,2-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA) and 2,2′-bis-(trifluoromethyl)biphenyl-4,4′-diamine (TFMB) with various polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) contents and then subjected to thermal imidization. The hybrid films show good optical transparency (>80% at 400 nm and >95% at 500 nm) with cutoff wavelengths ranging from 318 to 336 nm. Following the incorporation of the inorganic POSS structure, the hybrid films exhibit excellent thermal stability with glass transition temperature (T_g) ranging from 351 to 372 °C. The hybrid films possess the highest T_g compared with the previously-reported shape memory polymers. These findings show that POSS is successfully utilized to develop transparent polyimides with excellent thermal stability and shape memory effect.

The Preparation and Chemical Structure Analysis of Novel POSS-Based Porous Materials

In this work, we reported the preparation and chemical analysis of novel polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)-based porous materials, which were prepared according to Friedel-Crafts chloromethylation by using aluminum chloride as the catalyst and dichloromethane as the solvent. Through controlling the treatment solvent (water or methanol) and kinds of POSS, several materials with different morphologies were conveniently obtained. The chemical structure of porous materials was systematically characterized by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, ²⁹Si Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), ¹³C NMR, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The samples were further characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to study their crystallinity, morphology, and thermal properties, respectively. The work systematically demonstrated the chemical structure of the porous materials. Moreover, the advantages and disadvantages of the preparation method and typical properties of the material were evaluated through a comparative analysis with other related research works.

Self-Healing Anti-Atomic-Oxygen Phosphorus-Containing Polyimide Film via Molecular Level Incorporation of Nanocage Trisilanolphenyl POSS: Preparation and Characterization

Protection of polymeric materials from the atomic oxygen erosion in low-earth orbit spacecrafts has become one of the most important research topics in aerospace science. In the current research, a series of novel organic/inorganic nanocomposite films with excellent atomic oxygen (AO) resistance are prepared from the phosphorous-containing polyimide (FPI) matrix and trisilanolphenyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (TSP–POSS) additive. The PI matrix derived from 2,2’-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA) and 2,5-bis[(4-amino- phenoxy)phenyl]diphenylphosphine oxide (BADPO) itself possesses the self-healing feature in AO environment. Incorporation of TSP–POSS further enhances the AO resistance of the FPI/TSP composite films via a Si–P synergic effect. Meanwhile, the thermal stability of the pristine film is maintained. The FPI-25 composite film with a 25 wt % loading of TSP–POSS in the FPI matrix exhibits an AO erosion yield of 3.1 × 10⁻²⁶ cm³/atom after an AO attack of 4.0 × 10²⁰ atoms/cm², which is only 5.8% and 1.0% that of pristine FPI-0 film (6FDA-BADPO) and PI-ref (PMDA-ODA) film derived from 1,2,4,5-pyromellitic anhydride (PMDA) and 4,4’-oxydianline (ODA), respectively. Inert phosphorous and silicon-containing passivation layers are observed at the surface of films during AO exposure.

Functionalization of MXene Nanosheets for Polystyrene towards High Thermal Stability and Flame Retardant Properties

Fabricating high-performance MXene-based polymer nanocomposites is a huge challenge because of the poor dispersion and interfacial interaction of MXene nanosheets in the polymer matrix. To address the issue, MXene nanosheets were successfully exfoliated and subsequently modified by long-chain cationic agents with different chain lengths, i.e., decyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB), octadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (OTAB), and dihexadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB). With the long-chain groups on their surface, modified Ti3C2 (MXene) nanosheets were well dispersed in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), resulting in the formation of uniform dispersion and strong interfacial adhesion within a polystyrene (PS) matrix. The thermal stability properties of cationic modified Ti3C2/PS nanocomposites were improved considerably with the temperatures at 5% weight loss increasing by 20 °C for DTAB-Ti3C2/PS, 25 °C for OTAB-Ti3C2/PS and 23 °C for DDAB-Ti3C2/PS, respectively. The modified MXene nanosheets also enhanced the flame-retardant properties of PS. Compared to neat PS, the peak heat release rate (PHRR) was reduced by approximately 26.4%, 21.5% and 20.8% for PS/OTAB-Ti3C2, PS/DDAB-Ti3C2 and PS/DTAB-Ti3C2, respectively. Significant reductions in CO and CO2 productions were also obtained in the cone calorimeter test and generally lower pyrolysis volatile products were recorded by PS/OTAB-Ti3C2 compared to pristine PS. These property enhancements of PS nanocomposites are attributed to the superior dispersion, catalytic and barrier effects of Ti3C2 nanosheets.

Study of Gases Permeation in Necklace-Shaped Dimethylsiloxane Polymers Bearing POSS Cages

The transport of small gases (H₂, CO₂, N₂, O₂) through a series of novel membranes based on necklace-shaped inorganic polymers (DMS@POSS), in which a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) cage unit and soft chains of oligo-dimethyl siloxane (DMS) were alternately connected, was investigated. The influence of the DMS chain length and crosslinking density of the DMS@POSS on membrane properties were studied. The membranes revealed characteristic structure-property relation towards both glass transition and gases transport. Specifically, clear dependence of properties from the length of DMS units (or overall siloxane content) was revealed. Gas transport properties, when compared to state-of-art polydimethylsiloxane and commercial silicone rubber, demonstrated significantly higher selectivity of DMS@POSS for carbon dioxide (in CO₂/N₂), hydrogen (in H₂/N₂) and oxygen (in O₂/N₂) but lowered permeability, proportional to the amount of POSS in the material. With a precise control over mechanical and thermal properties compared to conventional silicone rubbers, described materials could be considered as materials of choice in niche gas separation or other applications.

Improving the Damping Properties of Nanocomposites by Monodispersed Hybrid POSS Nanoparticles: Preparation and Mechanisms

In this work, a series of heptaphenyl siloxane trisilanol/polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (T₇-POSS) modified by polyols with different molecular weights were synthesized into liquid-like nanoparticle⁻organic hybrid materials using the grafted-from method. All grafted POSS nanoparticles changed from solid powders to liquid at room temperature. Polyurethane (PU) nanocomposites with POSS contents ranging from 1.75 to 9.72 wt % were prepared from these liquefied polyols-terminated POSS with polyepichlorohydrin (POSS–PECH). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were used to characterize the morphology of the POSS–PECH/PU nanocomposites. The results showed that the polyol-terminated POSS particles overcame the nanoagglomeration effect and evenly disperse in the polymeric matrix. The damping factor (tan δ) of resultant nanocomposites increased from 0.90 to 1.16, while the glass transition temperature decreased from 15.8 to 9.4 °C when POSS contents increased from 0 to 9.75 wt %. The gel content, tensile strength and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analyses demonstrated that the molecular thermal movement ability of the polyurethane (PU) matrix increased with increasing POSS hybrid content. Therefore, the improvement of the damping properties of the composites was mainly due to the friction-related losses occurring in the interface region between the nanoparticles and the matrix.

POSS Hybrid Robust Biomass IPN Hydrogels with Temperature Responsiveness

In order to improve the performance of traditional sodium alginate (SA) hydrogels cross-linked by Ca2+ ions to meet greater application demand, a strategy was designed to structure novel SA-based gels (named OP-PN gels) to achieve both stimulus responsiveness and improved mechanical strength. In this strategy, the SA chains are co-cross-linked by CaCl₂ and cationic octa-ammonium polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (Oa-POSS) particles as the first network, and an organically cross-linked poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPA) network is introduced into the gels as the second network. Several main results are obtained from the synthesis and characterization of the gels. For OP-PN gels, their properties depend on the content of both uniformly dispersed Oa-POSS and PNIPA network directly. The increased Oa-POSS and PNIPA network content significantly improves both the strength and resilience of gels. Relatively, the increased Oa-POSS is greatly beneficial to the modulus of gels, and the increased PNIPA network is more favorable to advancing the tensile deformation of gels. The gels with hydrophilic PNIPA network exhibit better swelling ability and remarkable temperature responsiveness, and their volume phase transition temperature can be adjusted by altering the content of Oa-POSS. The deswelling rate of gels increases gradually with the increase of POSS content due to the hydrophobic Si⁻O skeleton of POSS. Moreover, the enhanced drug loading and sustained release ability of the target drug bovine serum albumin displays great potential for this hybrid gel in the biomedical field.

Anchor Effect in Polymerization Kinetics: Case of Monofunctionalized POSS

The effect of the anchoring group on the detailed polymerization kinetics was investigated using monomethacryloxy-heptaisobutyl POSS (1M-POSS). This compound was copolymerized with lauryl methacrylate (LM) as the base monomer, at various molar ratios. The process was initiated photochemically. The polymerization kinetics were followed by photo-DSC and photorheology while the polymers were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). For comparison, a methacrylate containing the branched siloxy-silane group (TSM) was also studied. It was found that the modifiers with a bulky substituent have a dual effect on the termination process: (i) At low concentrations, they increase the molecular mobility by increasing the free volume fraction, which leads to an acceleration of the termination and slows the polymerization; while (ii) at higher concentrations, they retard molecular motions due to the “anchor effect” that suppresses the termination, leading to acceleration of the polymerization. The anchor effect can also be considered from a different point of view: The possibility of anchoring a monomer with a long substituent (LM) around the POSS cage, which can further enhance propagation. These conclusions were derived based on kinetic results, determination of polymerization rate coefficients, and copolymer analysis.

Versatile Construction of Single-Tailed Giant Surfactants with Hydrophobic Poly(ε-caprolactone) Tail and Hydrophilic POSS Head

Giant surfactants refer to a new kind of amphiphile by incorporating functional molecular nanoparticles with polymer tails. As a size-amplified counterpart of small-molecule surfactants, they serve to bridge the gap between small-molecule surfactants and amphiphilic block copolymers. This work reports the design and synthesis of single-tailed giant surfactants carrying a hydrophobic poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) as the tail and a hydrophilic cage-like polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) nanoparticle as the head. The modular synthetic strategy features an efficient "growing-from" and "click-modification" approach. Starting from a monohydroxyl and heptavinyl substituted POSS (VPOSS-OH), a PCL chain with controlled molecular weight and narrow polydispersity was first grown by the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of ε-CL under the catalysis of stannous octoate, leading to a PCL chain end-capped with heptavinyl substituted POSS (VPOSS-PCL). To endow the POSS head with adjustable polarity and functionality, three kinds of hydrophilic groups, including hydroxyl groups, carboxylic acids, and amine groups, were installed to the periphery of POSS molecule by a high-efficiency thiol-ene "click" reaction. The compounds were fully characterized by NMR, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and TGA analysis. In addition, the preliminary self-assembly study of these giant surfactants was also investigated by TEM and dynamic laser light scattering (DLS), which indicated that they can form spherical nanoparticles with different diameters in aqueous solution. This work affords a straightforward and versatile way for synthesizing single-tailed giant surfactants with diverse head surface functionalities.

Scanning Auger Microscopy Studies of Silane Films Grown on Plasma-Modified HOPG Surfaces

The growth of silane films on plasma oxidized highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surfaces has been studied using wet chemical deposition of propyltrimethoxysilane (PTMS) and propyldimethylmethoxysilane (PDMMS). Scanning Auger microscopy (SAM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to investigate the chemical composition and morphology of the silane films. The effects of several deposition parameters were examined, including the necessity of oxidation of the HOPG surface, addition of water with the silane, and rinsing before curing. The optimal conditions needed to create a complete uniform film differ for the two silanes due to differences in their structures. Both silanes require an oxidized HOPG surface for a film to grow, the addition of water with PTMS results in a thicker film, while the addition of water with PDMMS decreases the film growth. Rinsing of both samples before curing removes physisorbed species, leaving only the covalently bonded film on the surface.

Investigation of the Internal Structure of Fiber Reinforced Geopolymer Composite under Mechanical Impact: A Micro Computed Tomography (µCT) Study

The internal structure of fiber reinforced geopolymer composite was investigated by microfocus X-ray computed tomography (µCT) under mechanical impact. µCT is a non-destructive, multi approach technique for assessing the internal structures of the impacted composites without compromising their integrity. The three dimensional (3D) representation was used to assess the impact damage of geopolymer composites reinforced with carbon, E-glass, and basalt fibers. The 3D representations of the damaged area with the visualization of the fiber rupture slices are presented in this article. The fiber pulls out, and rupture and matrix damage, which could clearly be observed, was studied on the impacted composites by examining slices of the damaged area from the center of the damage towards the edge of the composite. Quantitative analysis of the damaged area revealed that carbon fabric reinforced composites were much less affected by the impact than the E-glass and basalt reinforced composites. The penetration was clearly observed for the basalt based composites, confirming µCT as a useful technique for examining the different failure mechanisms for geopolymer composites. The durability of the carbon fiber reinforced composite showed better residual strength in comparison with the E-glass fiber one.

Optical, Electrical and Thermal Properties of Organic⁻Inorganic Hybrids with Conjugated Polymers Based on POSS Having Heterogeneous Substituents

Preparation of organic⁻inorganic hybrids with conventional conjugated polymers such as polyfluorene (PF) and poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) were demonstrated via the facile blending in solution by employing polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) having heterogeneous alkyl substituents. From the optical measurements, it was shown that the modified POSS derivatives played a critical role in facilitating amorphous state of polymer matrices. Interestingly, although inter-strand interaction decreased after POSS addition in the hybrid films, thermal stability can be enhanced in the presence of the modified POSS with long alkyl chains. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that carrier mobilities through the hybrid film was minimally reduced by POSS. These results suggest that POSS should be a versatile building block to form hybrid with various types of polymers for enhancing durability without loss of electronic properties of organic components.

Functional Polyimide/Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane Nanocomposites

The preparation of hybrid nanocomposite materials derived from polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) nanoparticles and polyimide (PI) has recently attracted much attention from both academia and industry, because such materials can display low water absorption, high thermal stability, good mechanical characteristics, low dielectric constant, flame retardance, chemical resistance, thermo-redox stability, surface hydrophobicity, and excellent electrical properties. Herein, we discussed the various methods that have been used to insert POSS nanoparticles into PI matrices, through covalent chemical bonding and physical blending, as well as the influence of the POSS units on the physical properties of the PIs.

Thermal Properties of TiO₂NP/CNT/LDPE Hybrid Nanocomposite Films

This work aims to investigate the effect of hybrid filler concentration on the thermal stability of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) matrices. LDPE-based composite films were synthesized by melt mixing, followed by compression molding, to study the influence of titanium oxide nanoparticles (TONPs) and/or multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the thermal properties of LDPE matrices. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed the slight increase in the band intensities after TONP addition and a remarkable surge after the incorporation of CNTs. The value of crystallization temperature (Tc) was not modified after incorporating TONPs, while an enhancement was observed after adding the hybrid fillers. The melting temperature (Tm) was not changed after introducing the CNTs and CNT/TONP hybrid fillers. The percentage crystallinity (Xc %) was increased by 4% and 6%, after incorporating 1 wt % and 3 wt % CNTs, respectively. The TONP incorporation did not modify the Xc %. Moreover, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) thermograms confirmed the increased thermal stability after introducing CNTs and hybrid fillers compared to TONP incorporation.

Exploring the Role of Nanoparticles in Enhancing Mechanical Properties of Hydrogel Nanocomposites

Over the past few decades, research studies have established that the mechanical properties of hydrogels can be largely impacted by the addition of nanoparticles. However, the exact mechanisms behind such enhancements are not yet fully understood. To further explore the role of nanoparticles on the enhanced mechanical properties of hydrogel nanocomposites, we used chemically crosslinked polyacrylamide hydrogels incorporating silica nanoparticles as the model system. Rheological measurements indicate that nanoparticle-mediated increases in hydrogel elastic modulus can exceed the maximum modulus that can be obtained through purely chemical crosslinking. Moreover, the data reveal that nanoparticle, monomer, and chemical crosslinker concentrations can all play an important role on the nanoparticle mediated-enhancements in mechanical properties. These results also demonstrate a strong role for pseudo crosslinking facilitated by polymer⁻particle interactions on the observed enhancements in elastic moduli. Taken together, our work delves into the role of nanoparticles on enhancing hydrogel properties, which is vital to the development of hydrogel nanocomposites with a wide range of specific mechanical properties.

Thermal Stability and Flame Retardancy of Polypropylene Composites Containing Siloxane-Silsesquioxane Resins

A novel group of silsesquioxane derivatives, which are siloxane-silsesquioxane resins (S4SQ), was for the first time examined as possible flame retardants in polypropylene (PP) materials. Thermal stability of the PP/S4SQ composites compared to the S4SQ resins and neat PP was estimated using thermogravimetric (TG) analysis under nitrogen and in air atmosphere. The effects of the non-functionalized and n-alkyl-functionalized siloxane-silsesquioxane resins on thermostability and flame retardancy of PP materials were also evaluated by thermogravimetry-Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (TG-FTIR) and by cone calorimeter tests. The results revealed that the functionalized S4SQ resins may form a continuous ceramic layer on the material surface during its combustion, which improves both thermal stability and flame retardancy of the PP materials. This beneficial effect was observed especially when small amounts of the S4SQ fillers were applied. The performed analyses allowed us to propose a possible mechanism for the degradation of the siloxane-silsesquioxane resins, as well as to explain their possible role during the combustion of the PP/S4SQ composites.