Characterization of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone‐co‐isobutylstyryl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane) nanocomposites

Abstract Poly(vinyl pyrrolidone‐ co ‐isobutyl styryl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane)s (PVP–POSS) were synthesized by one‐step polymerization and characterized using FTIR, high‐resolution 1 H‐NMR, solid‐state 13 C‐NMR, 29 Si‐NMR, GPC, and DSC. The POSS content can be controlled by varying the POSS feed ratio. The T g of the PVP–POSS hybrid is influenced by three main factors: (1) a diluent role of the POSS in reducing the self‐association of the PVP; (2) a strong interaction between the POSS siloxane and the PVP carbonyl, and (3) physical aggregation of nanosized POSS. At a relatively low POSS content, the role as diluent dominates, resulting in a decrease in T g . At a relatively high POSS content, the last two factors dominate and result in T g increase of the PVP–POSS hybrid. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 2208–2215, 2004