Polysiloxane Networks Modified by Nitrogen-Containing Organic Compounds

Amine-functionalized polysiloxanes, due to the presence of amino moieties, can be used for the extraction of toxic metal ions from wastewater, as supports for metallic catalysts, stabilizers for metal nanoparticles, macromolecular biocides, or as self-healing materials. In the present work, we studied poly(hydromethylsiloxane) (PHMS) networks functionalized with three amines: N-allyaniline (Naa), N-allylcyclohexylamine (Nach), and N-allylpiperidine (Nap). They were prepared using two procedures. The first one was a two-step process in which the previously cross-linked PHMS was reacted with the amine. The second, one-step method involved simultaneous PHMS cross-linking and reaction with the amine. FTIR and ²⁹Si MAS-NMR spectroscopic investigations, as well as elemental analysis, allowed us to conclude that the one-step method was more advantageous. It ensured higher PHMS networks functionalization degrees and hindered hydrolysis/condensation of Si-H/SiOH groups side processes, which were related to the basicity of the studied amines and significant in the two-step procedure.