Preparation and characterization of organic–inorganic hybrid composites based on multiepoxy silsesquioxane and cyanate resin

A multiepoxy cubic silsesquioxane was prepared by the hydrolysis and polycondensation of trifunctional monomer (γ‐glycidoxypropyl)trimethoxysilane in a solvent mixture of methyl isobutyl ketone and anhydrous ethanol with a tetraethyl ammonium hydroxide aqueous solution acting as the catalyst, and it was successfully introduced into a cyanate resin and formed highly crosslinked organic–inorganic hybrid composites on a molecular level via a mutual cure reaction. The properties of the multiepoxy cubic silsesquioxane/bisphenol A dicyanate ester resin composites were investigated, and the results showed that introducing the cubic silsesquioxane unit into the cyanate resin successfully modified the local structure of the molecule, made the chain more rigid, restricted the chain mobility, and eventually improved the thermal stability and flame retardancy of the resin.