Nanostructured^® Chemicals

OSS Nanostructured™ Chemicals are the first entirely new chemical feedstock advancement within the past 50 years.  The technology merges the properties of fillers with the versatility and precision of chemistry.  Their nanoscopic size affords molecular level control over polymer dynamics, surface-bulk properties, and biological function.

A Simple Definition

hat is a Nanostructured™ Chemical?  They are most readily defined by the following features:

• Single Molecules - not compositionally fluxional assemblies of molecules.
• Polyhedral Geometries -with well defined three dimensional shapes. (Clusters are good examples where planar hydrocarbons, dendrimers and particulates are not).
• Nanoscopic Size -approximate range is 0.7 to 50nm. They are larger than small molecules but smaller than macromolecules.
• Systematic Chemistries -established methodologies exist that enable control over stereochemistry, reactivity and physical properties.

POSS Nanostructured™ Chemicals are prepared via continuous and batch processes from low-cost readily available raw material sources.  Custom functionalization of POSS™ Chemicals is also available. (top)

How to Use

OSS™ Technology can be utilized in the same manner as common organic reagents.  A wide variety of POSS™-reagents, -monomers, -polymers, and Molecular Silicas™ are available to meet compatibility and application needs.

• Available as powders, oils, and waxes
• Meltable, spinable, and soluble
• Blendable into plastics like common fillers
• Graftable onto plastics via reactive processing
• Copolymerizable with organic comonomers
• Useful as primary reagents or templates
• Useful as surface modifiers and coatings
• No VOCs - zero volatile organic components (top)

POSS Nanostructured™ Chemical Technology

OSS™ Technology is derived from a classes of chemicals known as polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes and polyhedral oligomeric silicates.  POSS has two unique features: (1) the chemical composition is a hybrid, intermediate (RSiO 1.5 ) between that of silicas (SiO 2) and silicones (R 2SiO). (2) POSS molecules are physically large and range approximately 1-3nm in size. (top)

Anatomy of POSS™ Chemicals  

OSS Nanostructured™ Chemicals are the smallest particles of silica possible.

However, unlike silica, silicones, or fillers, each POSS molecule contains nonreactive organic functionalities for solubility and compatibilization of the POSS nanostructure with polymers, biological systems, and surfaces. In addition, POSS Nanostructured™ Chemicals can contain one or more covalently bonded reactive functionalities suitable for polymerization, grafting, surface bonding, or other transformations. (top)

Systematic Chemistry

OSS™ Technology is a chemical nanotechnology.  The precise size of cage, topology, and composition is defined by exact formula weights and molecular representations.  Cage sizes can be varied from monodisperse to polydisperse distributions.  The stereochemistry of functionalities can also be precisely controlled, thus ensuring reproducibility and quality assurance relative to material specifications
 
Well-defined chemical trees that illustrate the diversity of chemical functionalities that can be incorporated into POSS Nanostructured™ Chemicals have been established. (top)

Beat Your Competitors’ Patents

OSS is a new chemical feedstock technology and it can be used to upgrade the properties of prior patented compositions while enabling the patentability of the new material formulation.

Turnkey Utility

OSS can be used in the same manner as common organic reagents and polymeric materials. Their compatibility and functionality are fully tailorable and reactivity is identical.

No VOC's

OSS Nanostructured™ Chemicals have no appreciable vapor pressure and therefore do not possess any odor. They are useful as replacements for volatile organic components.

Lightweight

OSS Nanostructured™ Chemicals typically have densities in the range of 1.1 g/ml.  Yet because of their nanoscopic size they offer comparable molecular-level reinforcement to that of common (dense) fillers such as silica, clay etc.

Bridging the Gaps

OSS Nanostructured™ Chemicals bridge the gap between fillers and monomers in offering shrinkage control and reinforcement of polymer chains.  When appropriately functionalized they also bridge the gap between polymers and plasticizers without plasticizer migration.  POSS™-silanols afford the modification of surfaces with well-defined inorganic-organic segments and offer an alternative to traditional silanes.  When polyfunctionalized, POSS-systems are converted into Nanostructured™ dendrimers with high surface functionality even at the generation 1 and 2 levels (top)

Applications

• As Additives
  • Improved mechanicals
  • Viscosity reduction
  • Increased HDT
  • Decreased dielectric
  • Increased gas permeability
  • Retainment of opticals
  • Improved fire retardancy
• As Reagents
• Catalysis supports
• Monomers & crosslinkers
• Biological scaffolds
• Drug delivery
• Bioisolation
• As Surface Modifiers
• Silane replacements
• Corrosion resistant coatings
• Lubricants & compatiblizers

Custom R&D & Evaluations

ybrid Plastics routinely carries out contract R&D with customers who wish to take advantage of our experience in the application and development of products from POSS Nanostructured™ Chemical technology.  Please inquire for details about our R&D agreements.  Strict confidentiality is maintained . (top)