Abstract
This paper reviews recent studies on cage type silsesquioxane (SSQ)/epoxy resin nano-composites for clarifying their advantages in various properties. Many kinds of cage type SSQs, which have various organic substitutional groups including epoxy ones, have been utilized for these nano-composites studies. Data of the nano-composites properties, such as glass transition temperature, storage modulus, impact strength, or thermal stability, etc., are cited from a dozen of literatures and plotted against the additive amount of SSQ in Figures for better understanding of the effectiveness of SSQ addition. These data show that the cage type SSQ/epoxy resin nano-composites have various notable features from the standpoint of practical use. Furthermore, possible applications of the nano-composites are investigated from the information based on published patents and commercially available formulation products. Many promising potential applications are found in electronic, optical, coating, and composites fields, while the high production cost is still a high barrier for the cage type SSQ/epoxy resin nano-composites to enter the actual market.
