Antioxidant Silicone Elastomers without Covalent Cross-Links

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Sustainable Materials

Background:

• Elastomers require enhanced sustainability via end-of-life breakdown and reusability.
• Current elastomers often lack efficient reprocessing capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop silicone elastomers with both thermoplasticity (reprocessability) and inherent antioxidant activity.
• To investigate the linkage of natural phenolic antioxidants to silicone polymers.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized silicone elastomers by combining telechelic aminoalkylsilicones with natural phenolic antioxidants (catechol, pyrogallol, tannic acid).
• Utilized ionic and hydrogen bonding interactions to link antioxidants to the polymer backbone.
• Investigated the influence of the [ArOH]/[H2NR] ratio on mechanical properties and processability.

Main Results:

• Successfully prepared silicone elastomers exhibiting both thermoplasticity and antioxidant properties.
• Demonstrated that mechanical properties and processability are dependent on the antioxidant-to-silicone ratio.
• Identified an optimal [ArOH]/[H2NR] ratio exceeding 1:1 for enhanced elastomer performance.

Conclusions:

• The developed silicone elastomers offer a pathway to more sustainable materials through enhanced reusability and potential for controlled degradation.
• The incorporation of natural phenolic antioxidants via ionic and H-bonding provides a versatile method for creating functional elastomers.
• Material properties can be tuned by adjusting the ratio of incorporated antioxidants, enabling tailored performance for various applications.