| Abstract: | A method of preparing linear polyamide‐polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (PA‐POSS) hybrid nanocomposites in a reactor using thionyl chloride/triethylamine (TEA) as the activating agent was investigated. Soluble polyamic acid (PAA) having carboxylic acid end groups were first synthesized by condensation reaction of 2,2‐ bis(3,4‐dicarboxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA) and 2,2‐bis[4‐(4‐aminophenoxy)phenyl]‐1,1,1,3,3,3‐hexafluoropropane, (6FODA). The PAA was acylated by SOCl2/TEA and followed by the addition of different mole percentages of aminopropyl heptacyclopentyl POSS (AP‐POSS) and 3‐(trifluoromethyl) aniline to get the PA‐POSS hybrid nanocomposites. The chemical structure of PA‐POSS hybrid nanocomposites were investigated by ATR‐FTIR and NMR spectroscopic techniques. Thermal and morphological properties of PA‐POSS were influenced by changing the percentage of POSS and investigated by thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. Wide angle X‐ray diffraction and contact angle measurements. The PA‐POSS with hexafluoroisopropylidene and POSS groups have higher bulk density resulting in higher free volume and then increasing the solubility property. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers |
