235
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
T. J. Gutiérrez (ed.), Reactive and Functional Polymers Volume One,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-43403-8_11
Chapter 11
Reactive and Functional Silicones
for Special Applications
Carmen Racles, Mihaela Dascalu, Adrian Bele, and Maria Cazacu
Abstract With a history of almost 100 years, silicones -polymeric or oligomeric
siloxanes- are well known as reliable materials with a wide range of applications,
from home to the aerospace sector. The constant interest for these polymers is
explained by their unique combination of properties, including chemical and physiological inertness, extreme resistance to ozone and corona discharge, film forming
capacity, good thermal-oxidative and ultraviolet (UV) stability, high flexibility of
the macromolecular chain, low dielectric constant, surface energy and transition
temperatures, permeability to various gases, stability towards atomic oxygen and
oxygen plasma, and UV-visible radiation transparency. The chemical modification
of silicones is an active research area, since the attachment of several organic functional groups to the silicon atom imparts specific properties and triggers new applications. Functional siloxanes represent a bridge between siloxane and organic
chemistry and combine valuable properties of silicones with reactivity and specific
functions of organic moieties. In this chapter, the recent research progress in the
field of functional organic siloxanes and their materials are reviewed, focusing on
their applications in science and technology.
Keywords Functional siloxanes · Polysiloxanes · Silicone materials
11.1 Introduction
Silicones, also known as polysiloxanes, are synthetic polymers consisting of an
inorganic backbone chain made of alternating silicon and oxygen atoms, with
organic side groups attached to each silicon atom, with general formula [–OSiR 2 –] n .
This class of materials has a unique combination of properties (Kuo 1999), derived
from the particularities of the siloxane bond. Its length (1.64 Å) indicates a partial
double bond character and a lower basicity than that of ethers, while the very low
C. Racles (*) · M. Dascalu · A. Bele · M. Cazacu
Department of Inorganic Polymers, “Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry,
Iasi, Romania
e-mail: raclesc@icmpp.ro
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
T. J. Gutiérrez (ed.), Reactive and Functional Polymers Volume One,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-43403-8_11
Chapter 11
Reactive and Functional Silicones
for Special Applications
Carmen Racles, Mihaela Dascalu, Adrian Bele, and Maria Cazacu
Abstract With a history of almost 100 years, silicones -polymeric or oligomeric
siloxanes- are well known as reliable materials with a wide range of applications,
from home to the aerospace sector. The constant interest for these polymers is
explained by their unique combination of properties, including chemical and physiological inertness, extreme resistance to ozone and corona discharge, film forming
capacity, good thermal-oxidative and ultraviolet (UV) stability, high flexibility of
the macromolecular chain, low dielectric constant, surface energy and transition
temperatures, permeability to various gases, stability towards atomic oxygen and
oxygen plasma, and UV-visible radiation transparency. The chemical modification
of silicones is an active research area, since the attachment of several organic functional groups to the silicon atom imparts specific properties and triggers new applications. Functional siloxanes represent a bridge between siloxane and organic
chemistry and combine valuable properties of silicones with reactivity and specific
functions of organic moieties. In this chapter, the recent research progress in the
field of functional organic siloxanes and their materials are reviewed, focusing on
their applications in science and technology.
Keywords Functional siloxanes · Polysiloxanes · Silicone materials
11.1 Introduction
Silicones, also known as polysiloxanes, are synthetic polymers consisting of an
inorganic backbone chain made of alternating silicon and oxygen atoms, with
organic side groups attached to each silicon atom, with general formula [–OSiR 2 –] n .
This class of materials has a unique combination of properties (Kuo 1999), derived
from the particularities of the siloxane bond. Its length (1.64 Å) indicates a partial
double bond character and a lower basicity than that of ethers, while the very low
C. Racles (*) · M. Dascalu · A. Bele · M. Cazacu
Department of Inorganic Polymers, “Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry,
Iasi, Romania
e-mail: raclesc@icmpp.ro