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Octa(3,3,3-Trifluoropropyl) Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane (8F-POSS) as a Multifunctional Modifier for Natural
Fan Yi1, Wenjing Guo1, Rentong Yu1,2
1School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|March 14, 2026
Summary
Octa(3,3,3-trifluoropropyl) polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (8F-POSS) enhances natural rubber vulcanizates. This nanoscale filler improves damping and hydrophobicity in deproteinized natural rubber, offering a strategy for high-performance materials.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Natural rubber (NR) and deproteinized natural rubber (DPNR) are widely used elastomers.
- Incorporating inorganic fillers can enhance rubber properties, but challenges remain in achieving optimal dispersion and interaction.
- Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) offer unique properties as nanoscale hybrid fillers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and incorporate octa(3,3,3-trifluoropropyl) polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (8F-POSS) into NR and DPNR.
- To investigate the effects of 8F-POSS on vulcanization kinetics, network structure, and filler-rubber interactions.
- To evaluate the performance of 8F-POSS/NR and 8F-POSS/DPNR vulcanizates, focusing on damping, thermal stability, and oil resistance.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of 8F-POSS via a vertex-capping method.
- Fabrication of inorganic-organic vulcanizates using NR and DPNR.
- Evaluation of curing characteristics, crosslink density, and filler-rubber interaction parameter (α).
- Two-dimensional infrared (2D-IR) spectroscopy to probe filler-matrix interactions.
- Measurement of damping performance, glass transition temperature (Tg), equilibrium swelling, water contact angle, and thermal stability.
Main Results:
- 8F-POSS retarded vulcanization but enhanced network integrity.
- In NR, proteins acted as compatibilizers, but high loadings reduced reinforcement efficiency.
- DPNR vulcanizates exhibited stronger direct filler-rubber interactions and a more constrained physical network.
- 8F-POSS/DPNR showed a synergistic "reinforcement-dissipation" effect, leading to enhanced damping (loss factor of 1.26).
- Improved hydrophobicity (water contact angle > 120°) and reduced oil swelling (147% vs 324%) were observed in 8F-POSS/DPNR.
Conclusions:
- 8F-POSS effectively modifies NR and DPNR properties, creating high-performance vulcanizates.
- The protein network in NR plays a crucial role in filler dispersion and reinforcement efficiency.
- Deproteinization of NR enhances filler-rubber interactions, leading to superior damping and oil resistance.
- This study demonstrates a viable strategy for designing advanced elastomer composites using nanoscale hybrid fillers.
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