Crystallization and mechanical properties of biodegradable poly(p-dioxanone)/octamethyl-polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes nanocomposites via simple solution casting method

In this study, biodegradable poly(p-dioxanone) (PPDO)/octamethyl-polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (ome-POSS) nanocomposites were fabricated by the simple solution casting method with various ome-POSS loadings. Scanning electron microscopic observations indicate that ome-POSS is well dispersed in the PPDO matrix. Effect of ome-POSS on the isothermal melt crystallization and dynamic mechanical properties of PPDO in the nanocomposites were studied in detail. It shows that the overall crystallization rates are faster in the nanocomposites than in neat PPDO and increase with the increase in ome-POSS loadings; however, X-ray diffraction patterns, POM and the Avrami exponent suggest that the crystal structure and the crystallization mechanism do not change despite the presence of ome-POSS. The mechanical property of PPDO/ome-POSS nanocomposites was enhanced with respect to neat PPDO.