POLYHEDRAL OLIGOMERIC SILSESQUIOXANES - BUILDING-BLOCKS FOR SILSESQUIOXANE-BASED POLYMERS AND HYBRID MATERIALS

General methods are described for the preparation of discrete polyhedr al oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) macromers and for their incorporat ion into linear polymeric systems. Depending on the type of functional ity contained on the POSS macromer, macromolecular systems can be cons tructed with POSS units as either main chain (bead), side chain (penda nt), or chain terminus groups. The preparation and polymerization chem istry for bead and pendant POSS macromers are described. The propertie s of the resulting polymers are discussed with respect to the overall polymer composition and architecture. Implications of the macromers as novel polymer hard blocks, polymer additives, and as non-network hybr id materials are discussed.