The properties of silicone rubber materials are closely related to their synthesis processes. Continuously innovating the synthesis processes and exploring cutting-edge technologies are the key driving forces for promoting the improvement of the properties of silicone rubber materials and the expansion of their applications. In recent years, with the rapid development of materials science and technology, significant progress has been made in multiple aspects of the synthesis process of silicone rubber.
In the traditional synthesis method of silicone rubber, dimethylsiloxane monomers are used as raw materials to prepare silicone rubber through hydrolysis polycondensation reactions. However, this traditional process has some limitations. For example, the by-products generated during the reaction have a certain impact on the environment, and it is difficult to precisely control the molecular weight and molecular structure of the polymer. To overcome these problems, researchers have developed new catalytic systems. For example, metal-organic catalysts are used to replace traditional acid-base catalysts. Such catalysts have higher activity and selectivity, can promote the polymerization of monomers under mild reaction conditions, and reduce the occurrence of side reactions. At the same time, by precisely controlling the dosage of the catalyst and the reaction time, the molecular weight and its distribution of silicone rubber can be accurately controlled, and silicone rubber products with a narrower molecular weight distribution can be prepared, thereby improving the consistency and stability of the material properties.
In addition to the innovation of the catalytic system, the improvement of the polymerization method has also brought new breakthroughs to the synthesis of silicone rubber. The application of living polymerization technology in the synthesis of silicone rubber has received increasing attention. Living polymerization can achieve precise control of the molecular structure of the polymer, and silicone rubber with a predetermined molecular weight and a specific molecular structure (such as block and graft structures) can be prepared. Taking atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) as an example, in the synthesis of silicone rubber, by introducing a specific initiator and catalyst system, the monomers can be polymerized sequentially in a designed manner to form silicone rubber with a complex molecular structure. This silicone rubber with a customized molecular structure shows unique advantages in specific application fields. For example, when preparing high-performance nanocomposites, specific functional groups can be introduced onto the molecular chains of silicone rubber through living polymerization to enhance the interaction between the silicone rubber and the nano-fillers, thereby significantly improving the performance of the composite material.
In terms of the greening of the synthesis process, water-based synthesis technology has become one of the key directions of cutting-edge exploration. The traditional synthesis of silicone rubber is mostly carried out in organic solvents. The use of organic solvents not only brings environmental pollution and safety hazards but also increases the production cost. Water-based synthesis technology uses water as the reaction medium, avoiding the use of organic solvents and having the advantages of being environmentally friendly and cost-effective. However, there are many challenges in achieving water-based synthesis, such as the poor solubility of silicone rubber monomers in water and low reaction activity. Researchers have uniformly dispersed the silicone rubber monomers in water by developing new emulsifiers and dispersants, and at the same time optimized the reaction conditions to promote the polymerization reaction of the monomers in the aqueous phase. Currently, certain progress has been made in water-based synthesis technology, and the performance of some silicone rubber products synthesized by the water-based method can already be comparable to those prepared by traditional processes, opening up a new way for the green development of the synthesis process of silicone rubber.
110 Methyl Vinyl Silicone Gum
