Silsesquioxanes and their application in the synthesis of polymeric materials

The paper is a literature review concerning the synthesis and characterization of polymeric materials containing silsesquioxanes (POSS). The methods of preparation of the functionalized POSS-containing hybrid polymeric materials using click chemistry, poIycondensation, polyaddition, ring-opening metathesis and free-radical polymerization - both conventional and controlled (ATRP) - have been presented. Depending on the polyreaction mechanism, the type of monomer used and the structure of POSS cage, linear copolymers with silsesquioxane units in the main or side chains as well as star copolymers can be obtained. The incorporation of POSS into copolymer system results in increased glass transition and decomposition temperatures, better resistance to oxidation and improved mechanical properties when compared to the conventional polymeric systems.