Organosilicon‐functionalized polyolefins, a kind of designable and versatile polymer: From preparation to applications

Abstract

Functionalization of polyolefins has been a challenging but promising issue since their invention, with the promise of retaining inherent properties and overcoming the low reactivity and poor compatibility. Organosilicons are widely used for polymer modification to improve thermal stability, hydrophobicity, compatibility, and permeability. Since the advent of alkoxysilane‐grafted polyethylene in 1960s, organosilicon‐functionalized polyolefins (Si‐PO) have been extensively prepared, investigated, and developed. The structure of Si‐PO is designable due to the flexible chemistry of organosilicons; crosslinked, long chain branched, and star‐shaped polyolefins are available after the introduction of alkoxysilanes, chlorosilanes, hyrdosilanes, or alkylsilanes into polyolefins, and generally these polymers are more compatible to fillers than commercial polyolefins due to stronger interaction. In addition, functionalization of polyolefins with stable organosilicon components such as polysiloxane and polysilsesquioxane can improve thermostability, hydrophobicity, gas permeability, and aging resistance; such polyolefins are usually grafted or block polymers. In this review, Si‐PO is classified according to the functional organosilicon component, namely alkoxysilane, chlorosilane, hydrosilane, alkylsilane, polysiloxane, and polysilsesquioxane; their preparations are discussed minutely and summarized with manifold examples. Silicon‐containing structures impart the unique properties of organosilicons to polyolefins; applications of Si‐PO as compatibilizers, processing aids, battery separators, and separating membranes have been widely reported and are discussed here.

Archie E. Hamielec memorial issue

“…The authors of the articles in this issue join us from many countries and institutions across the globe (Figure 1 and Table 1) to thank Archie for his enduring legacy in polymerization reaction engineering, a field of academic and industrial interest that he established practically single‐handedly. [ 1–45 ]…”

Preparation of silyl-terminated branched polyethylenes catalyzed by Brookhart's nickel diimine complex activated with hydrosilane/B(C6F5)3

“…[4][5][6][7] Silane-functionalized polyolefins (Si-PO) have been explored for their unique properties and possible utilization as compatibilizers for blending the polyolefin with inorganic fillers, processing aids and battery separators. 8 The Si-PO polymers could be prepared by various methods, for example post-functionalization of vinyl-terminated polyolefins (e.g. hydrosilylation), free radical grafting, and coordination polymerization (Chart 1).…”

Study on water tree resistance and self‐healing properties of multi‐monomer melt‐grafted polyethylene

“…Si PO not only retains the original good performance of the material itself, but also endows the material itself with other characteristics that it does not possess, making polyolefins better able to meet the requirements in practical applications. [7][8][9][10][11] Camalov et al grafted silane in single-layer and multi-layer cross-linked Polyethylene (XLPE), and conducted breakdown tests at different voltage rise rates. The maximum increase of breakdown voltage reached 23.8%, which effectively improved the electrical, mechanical, and thermal stability of insulating materials.…”

“…On the other hand, Si‐PO materials can generate various structures of polyolefins through intermolecular reaction of silane or chain transfer reaction initiated by adding silane during polymerization. SiPO not only retains the original good performance of the material itself, but also endows the material itself with other characteristics that it does not possess, making polyolefins better able to meet the requirements in practical applications 7–11 …”