The preparation of inorganic/organic hybrid nanomaterials containing silsesquioxane and its reinforcement for an epoxy resin network

A series of new inorganic/organic hybrid nanomaterials were prepared through the reaction of cage octa(gamma-aminopropylsilsesquioxane) with n-butyl glycidyl ether. The structures and properties of these hybrid materials were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Si-29 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), H-1-NMR, and mass spectrometry spectra. The hybrid materials were used for improving mechanical and thermal properties of epoxy resin E-51. The results showed that appropriate amount of addition of the hybrids could enhance the fracture elongation ratio and impact strength. The tensile strength decreased with the addition of the hybrids. The thermal properties such as glass transition temperature, antioxidant index, decomposition temperature, and Vicat softening temperature were obviously improved. Scanning electron microscope observation displayed a rough structure inside the cured epoxy resin by the addition of the hybrids. Kinetic study indicated that the curing process was continuous with average activation energy of 48.06 kJ/mol which was based on Kissinger and Flynn-Wall-Ozawa models.