Synthesis,structure, and properties of high‐impact polystyrene/octavinyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane nanocomposites

The organic–inorganic hybrid nanocomposites from high‐impact polystyrene/octavinyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (HIPS/POSS) containing various percentages of POSS were prepared by free radical polymerization and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ¹H‐NMR, thermal gravity analysis (TGA), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The octavinyl POSS has formed covalent bond connected PS‐POSS hybrid with polystyrene. POSS can well disperse in the composites at the composition of 0.5 and 1 wt%. The mechanical properties and thermostability of HIPS/POSS nanocomposites were significantly improved. The tensile strength, the izod impact strength, and the elongation at break of the nanocomposite containing 1 wt% of POSS was increased, respectively, by 15.73%, 75.62%, and 72.71% in comparison with pristine HIPS. The thermal decomposition temperature of HIPS/POSS (1 wt% of POSS) was 33°C higher than that of pristine HIPS. The HIPS/POSS nanocomposites showed great potential for applications in many fields, such as electric appliance and automotive trim. POLYM. COMPOS. 37:1049–1055, 2016. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers