Siloxanes applications

Silicones are probably best known for their application as sealants and as release materials for pressure sensitive adhesives [107]. The silicone polymer combines an inorganic backbone made from silicon-oxygen bonds with organic substitution on the silicon atom. This repeating unit, shown below is called a siloxane. 

Owen, M.J., Surface chemistry and applications. In Clarson, S.J. and Semiyen, J.A. (Eds.), Siloxane Polymers, Polymer Science and Technology Series. PTR Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1993, pp. 309-372. 

This area of research is receiving increasing attention due to a better understanding (and recognition) of the properties and potential applications of siloxane containing copolymers. A detailed discussion of this type of graft copolymers and their uses will be given in later sections. 

Recently, as a further recognition of the importance of multiphase copolymers in specialty applications, siloxane containing block and segmented copolymers have received special attention for applications such as biomaterials, photoresists, gas separation membranes, protective coatings, elastomers and emulsifiers, as we shall... 

Since that time much work has been done in the area of siloxane-imide systems, especially in industrial laboratories. Therefore most of the available information is enclosed in the patent literature 168 175) and, unfortunately, description of the actual polymerization chemistry is very vague. A great majority of these applications utilized disiloxanes in high concentrations in order to obtain soluble polymers with improved toughness. 

Development of several new siloxane-imide copolymers for commercial applications have also been reported by Lee 181) and Berger58). Although no information was given in terms of the chemical compositions of these materials, most of these polymers were reported to be processable by solution or melt processing techniques, most probably due to their high siloxane contents. However, due to the presence of low (—20 to —120 °C) and high (>230 °C) temperature Tg s, it was clear that multiphase copolymers have been synthesized. Molecular weights and thermal stabilities, etc, were not reported. 

Hydrosilation reactions have been one of the earlier techniques utilized in the preparation of siloxane containing block copolymers 22,23). A major application of this method has been in the synthesis of polysiloxane-poly(alkylene oxide) block copolymers 23), which find extensive applications as emulsifiers and stabilizers, especially in the urethane foam formulations 23-43). These types of reactions are conducted between silane (Si H) terminated siloxane oligomers and olefinically terminated poly-(alkylene oxide) oligomers. Consequently the resulting system contains (Si—C) linkages between different segments. Earlier developments in the field have been reviewed 22, 23,43> Recently hydrosilation reactions have been used effectively by Ringsdorf 255) and Finkelmann 256) for the synthesis of various novel thermoplastic liquid crystalline copolymers where siloxanes have been utilized as flexible spacers. Introduction of flexible siloxanes also improved the processibility of these materials. 

Siloxane containing copolymeric surfactants also find applications as surfactants in paints and personal care products such as shampoos. 

Biomedical Applications Due to their excellent blood compatibility (low interaction with plasma proteins) and high oxygen and moisture permeabilities, siloxane containing copolymers and networks have been extensively evaluated and used in the construction of blood contacting devices and contact lenses 376). Depending on the actual use, the desired mechanical properties of these materials are usually achieved by careful design and selection of the organic component in the copolymers. 

Polysiloxane based block copolymers have also been examined with respect to their transport properties, because these copolymers are of special interest as membranes in various biomedical applications 376). The combination of good mechanical, dielectric, permeation and film formation properties of siloxane-carbonate segmented copolymers have led to their use as blood oxygenation, dialysis and microelectrode membranes 392 394. ... 

The data presented in Figure 8 graphically illustrate the tremendous and rapid growth in interest in FOSS chemistry, especially for patented applications. This looks set to continue with current applications in areas as diverse as dendrimers, composite materials, polymers, optical materials, liquid crystal materials, atom scavengers, and cosmetics, and, no doubt, many new areas to come. These many applications derive from the symmetrical nature of the FOSS cores which comprise relatively rigid, near-tetrahedral vertices connected by more flexible siloxane bonds. The compounds are usually thermally and chemically stable and can be modified by conventional synthetic methods and are amenable to the usual characterization techniques. The recent commercial availability of a wide range of simple monomers on a multigram scale will help to advance research in the area more rapidly. 

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