Abstract: Inorganic/organic hybrid polymers containing silsesquioxane cages are robust and exhibit desirable physical properties such as strength, hardness, and optical transparency at infrared and ultraviolet wavelengths. The polymers are prepared by polymerizing functionalized polyhedral silsesquioxane monomers such as polyhedral silsesquioxanes bearing two complementarily reactive functional groups bonded to cage silicon atoms by means of spacer moieties. The spacer moieties allow for steric mobility and more complete cure than polyhedral silsesquioxanes bearing reactive functional groups bound directly to cage silicon atoms.

Abstract: Inorganic/organic hybrid polymers containing silsesquioxane cages are robust and exhibit desirable physical properties such as strength, hardness, and optical transparency at infrared and ultraviolet wavelengths. The polymers are prepared by polymerizing functionalized polyhedral silsesquioxane monomers such as polyhedral silsesquioxanes bearing two complementarily reactive functional groups bonded to cage silicon atoms by means of spacer moieties. The spacer moieties allow for steric mobility and more complete cure than polyhedral silsesquioxanes bearing reactive functional groups bound directly to cage silicon atoms.

Abstract: Inorganic/organic hybrid polymers containing silsesquioxane cages are robust and exhibit desirable physical properties such as strength, hardness, and optical transparency at infrared and ultraviolet wavelengths. The polymers are prepared by polymerizing functionalized polyhedral silsesquioxane monomers such as polyhedral silsesquioxanes bearing two complementarily reactive functional groups bonded to cage silicon atoms by means of spacer moieties. The spacer moieties allow for steric mobility and more complete cure than polyhedral silsesquioxanes bearing reactive functional groups bound directly to cage silicon atoms.