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Hyperbranched Silicone MDTQ Tack Promoters
Sijia Zheng1, Shuai Liang1, Yang Chen1
1Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. W., Hamilton, ON L8S 4M1, Canada.
Highly branched silicone oils improve elastomer properties by enhancing tack. Less branched structures are more effective, as highly branched oils can phase separate in silicone gels.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Chemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Low molecular weight, crosslinked silicone resins are used in transparent elastomers and gels.
- Their complex structures lead to ill-defined structure-property relationships.
Purpose of the Study:
- Synthesize and characterize hyperbranched polymeric silicone oils.
- Investigate the structure-property relationships of these oils in gels.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of 2, 3, and 4-fold hyperbranched silicone oils.
- Rheological analysis of the oils.
- Tack measurements of silicone gels containing varying amounts of the oils.
Main Results:
- Oil viscosity correlated with molecular weight and significantly with branch density.
- Less densely branched oils improved tack more effectively than linear or highly branched oils.
- Phase separation occurred in gels with highly branched oils.
Conclusions:
- Branch density is a key factor in silicone oil properties and performance in gels.
- Optimized branching in silicone oils can enhance tack in elastomers.
- Understanding phase separation is crucial for designing effective silicone gel additives.
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