POSS® Nanostructured Chemical Technology has two unique features: (1) the chemical composition is a hybrid, intermediate (RSiO1.5) between that of silica (SiO2) and silicones (R2SiO). (2) POSS® molecules are physically large ranging from approximately 1-3 nm. POSS® materials are thermally and chemically more robust than silicones and their nanostructured architecture imparts unique properties by controlling polymer chain motion at the molecular level. POSS®-Methacrylates possess a hybrid inorganic-organic three-dimensional structure, which contains from one to eight methacryl groups. The majority of POSS®-Methacrylates contain seven non-reactive organic groups and one methacryl group. While the monofunctional methacrylates can be incorporated into thermoplastics by copolymerization or grafting, the multifunctional methacrylates can be used as effective cross-linkers. They react similarly in polymerization, grafting and cross-linking reactions to standard organic monomers. While reacting similarly to simple organic methacrylates, POSS®-Methacrylates impart significant improvements in the thermal, mechanical, and gas separation properties of traditional plastics. Information provided by Hybrid Plastics |