Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry, Vol.48, No.9, 1866-1877, 2010
Chain Internal/Chain End Latent Crosslinking in Thermoset Polymer Systems
The combination of both chain-internal/chain-end latent crosslinking in a single thermoset polymer system is the subject of this study. A series of linear carbosiloxane/hydrocarbon homopolymers were synthesized by metathesis polycondensation, polymers which serve as the soft phase in the target chain-internal/chain-end latent crosslinked materials. These carbosiloxane/hydrocarbon "soft phase" homopolymers exhibited excellent performance parameters, displaying purely amorphous character with glass transition temperatures ranging between -104 degrees C and -90 degrees C depending on the run length of siloxane or hydrocarbon methylene units within the carbosiloxane/hydrocarbon monomer. These soft phase monomers were then copolymerized with latent chain-internal crosslinking carbosilane monomers in the presence of latent chain-end crosslinking molecules thereby generating a new class linear copolymers capable of being moisture cured to produce a new class of silicon-based thermoset systems. Mechanical properties of these thermosets, show breaking strengths up to 0.5 MPa and elongations up to 100%. Both elastic and plastic behavior can be observed in such systems, depending upon the molar ratio of carbosiloxane/hydrocarbon co-monomer and the carbosilane co-monomer. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1866-1877, 2010
Keywords:ADMET polymerization;carbosilane;carbosiloxane;crosslinking;mechanical properties;thermosets