Siloxane block copolymer synthesis

PMSE 61

Ruby Chakraborty, rc25@uakron.edu and Mark D. Soucek. Department of Polymer Engineering, The University of Akron, 250 South Forge Street, Akron, OH 44325-0301
This work consists of synthesis of vinyl functionalized siloxanes, having different backbone substitutions and using them as intermediate for synthesizing siloxane-siloxane block copolymers. Hydrosilation reaction chemistry is used and the reaction was monitored through FTIR Temperature of the reaction was kept low to avoid homopolymerization of divinyl monomer. It was observed that as the bulk of the substituents in the main chain is increased the rate of hydrosilation decreases either for synthesizing vinyl terminated siloxane or for block copolymer, hence requires longer time of reaction. Characterization of the block copolymers were done by FTIR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and 2D NMR techniques. This vinyl terminated siloxanes were prepared to be mixed with other polymer systems to be used as a modifier of properties as surface tension and flexibility