Characterization of UHMWPE/POSS composite prepared by ball milling

The incorporation of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) into polymeric materials may result in great improvements of polymer properties including electrical dielectric properties. However, the success of achieving such a material with improved properties relies on a proper dispersion and distribution of POSS within the polymer. In this paper, ball milling is used to prepare UHMWPE/POSS 95/5 wt% composites and proven to be an easy and effective method to disperse POSS within UHMWPE at a submicron to micron scale with acceptable distribution. Moreover, the morphological, thermal and electrical characteristics of the resulting composites are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) and short-time breakdown.