Preparation of polysilsesquioxane-urethaneacrylate copolymer film reinforced with chitin nanofibers.

Chitin nanofibers (CNFs) reinforced silsesquioxane-urethaneacrylate (SSQ-UA) copolymer films were prepared. CNFs-SSQ-UA nanocomposite films were highly transparent due to the filling of nanometer sized (10-20 nm) CNFs inside the hybrid organic-inorganic SSQ-UA copolymer. CNFs due to their crystalline structure drastically increased Young's moduli and the tensile strengths of the composite and decreased the thermal expansion. High thermal stability of polysilsesquioxane improved heat resistance of CNFs.