Hardener compound for epoxy system

A method of preparing a hardener compound for curing with an epoxy resin, comprising:

• reacting a copolymer of styrene and maleic anhydride of the formula (V)
• with an amino polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane of the formula (VI)
• H2N—Y(SiO1.5)bRb-1 (VI)
• under conditions effective to form the hardener compound of formula (VII):
• for curing with the epoxy resin, where each q, n and m is independently a positive integer, with e being the sum of q and m, and where the positive integers for q, n and m sum to a value that is from 10 to no greater than 150 and a value of n/(q+m) is from 1 to 10;
• each b is independently selected from the group of 6, 8, 10 and 12;
• each Y is independently an organic group;
• and each R is independently selected from the group of a hydrogen, an organic group and a halogen.