Silicon-based polymers promising applications

Luminescent inorganic polymer sensors had received little attention as explosive sensors. The observation of electron transfer quenching of luminescence in porous silicon nanostructures [27] suggested that polysilicon organometallic species might be especially promising for sensor applications. Several luminescent polysilicon based structures are known. 

To create polymer materials exploiting in extreme conditions, it is required to use new components (including fillers) providing the flow of physical and chemical transformations that improve the operational stability of the materials. One of the problem solutions is the application of such promising fillers as high-dispersity silicon carbide in elastomer compositions. A low cost source of microdispersed silicon carbide can be slurries produced after grinding with the abrasive tool based on silicon carbide. 

In addition to the above discussed families of silicones and acrylates, another family of polymers that can be exploited for DBA applications includes polyurethanes. Studies of polyurethane-based DBAs have reported promising results for this class of materials, which specifically exhibit great potential for use as artificial muscles. The first commercial polyurethane, with the eharacteristic carbamate group -(NH)(CO) O- backbone (Fig. 8), was realized in 1937 by Bayer (1947). The simplest and most eommon reaction scheme, although not the only one possible, to synthesize the urethane linkage is to combine polydiisocyanate with a polydiol by a polyaddition reaction, as displayed in Fig. 8. 

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