321
13.9 Outlook and Conclusion
Siloxanes and silicones are truly unique materials with many advantageous properties. From their wide thermal stability to biocompatibility, siloxanes are already
heavily incorporated into a number of industries. In particular, the last two decades
have been an exciting time for silicone polymers with new discoveries and rediscoveries that open more and more paths to complex structures and offer a greater degree
of control over reactivity and properties of materials. Given the importance of silicones in a number of applications, siloxane polymers will continue to have significant leaps at the scientific and technological level. Many misperceptions of this
class of polymers have been dissipated, and the incorporation of new technologies
within the easily established techniques is opening previously unthought paths. Its
importance as coating materials and biomedical devices will probably increase in
the coming years as more precise surface properties can be prepared.
Acknowledgments The authors thank the Pace University Office of the Provost for financial
support.
Conflicts of interest The authors declare no conflict of interest.
O
O
Si
Me
OH
OH
OH
OH
H 2 O
−H 2 O
:OH 2
H
⊕
⊕
O
O H
OH
OH
Me Me Me Me Me Me Me
O
Si
O
Si
O
Si
O
O
Si
Me
OH
H
OH
O
O H
H 2 O
OH
OH
OH
OH
OH
Me Me Me Me Me Me Me
O
Si
OH
Si
O
Si
O
OH Si
Me
OH
OH O
OH
H 2 O
H 2 O
OH
OH O
O H
Me Me Me Me Me Me Me
O
Si
OH
Si
O
Si
+H 2 O
silanolysis
−H
+ /+H
+
Fig. 13.16 Reaction of
siloxane polymers on
inorganic oxide substrates.
Reprinted with permission
from Krumpfer and
McCarthy (2011)
13 Synthetic Methods and Applications of Functional and Reactive Silicone Polymers