Modification of epoxy resins with functional silanes, polysiloxanes, silsesquioxanes, silica and silicates

Epoxy resins are very important and widely used thermosetting polymers that find many practical applications. Very often their properties can be effectively modified by an addition of reactive silanes, polysiloxanes, silsesquioxanes, silica, montmorillonite, and other fillers. This review considers the literature concerning: (a) synthesis of carbofunctional silanes (CFS), polysiloxanes (CFPS) and polyhedral silsesquioxanes (POSS); (b) properties of neat epoxy resins and their composites and nanocomposites, obtained by modifications with reactive silanes, silicon containing monomers and polymers, and silica based fillers, enabling improvement of their mechanical properties, thermal and flame resistance as well as providing corrosion and antimicrobial protection.