Silicone‐based polymer blends: Enhancing properties through compatibilization

Abstract

Polymer blending is a cost‐effective way to control the properties of soft materials, but the propensity for blends to macrophase separate motivates the development of efficient compatibilization strategies. Across this broad area, compatibilization is particularly important for polysiloxanes, which exhibit strong repulsive interactions with most organic polymers. This review analyzes state‐of‐the‐art polysiloxane compatibilization strategies for silicone–organic polymer blends. Emphasis is placed on chemical innovation in the design of compatibilization agents that may expedite the commercialization of new silicone–organic materials. We anticipate that hybrid silicone blends will continue to play an important role in fundamental and applied materials science across industry and academia.

Correlating Nanomechanical Mapping and Single-Molecule Localization Microscopy for Local Properties in Interpenetrating Network Elastomers

“…However, the microstructure is kinetically trapped in a nonequilibrium state as cross-linking occurs, resulting in incomplete phase separation and mixing between the normally incompatible polymers at the nanoscale. 11,21 This incomplete phase separation is traditionally observed by ensemble-based measurements of macroscopic samples, such as shifts in glass transition temperature (T g ) and changes in X-ray scattering intensity. 15,19,22−27 In a previous study, we used small-angle Xray scattering (SAXS) to measure the degree of mixing in poly(dimethylsiloxane)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PDMS/ PMMA) IPNs by investigating the differences in the scattering length density of the two phases.…”

A novel approach to graft silicones onto waterborne polyacrylate for synthesizing anti‐graffiti coatings by polydimethylsiloxane‐functionalized RAFT agent

“…The latter can enhance the compatibility by forming chemical bonds, however needs suitable conditions, which is usually difficult to control 4 . To create suitable conditions for the reaction, it is common to use reactive comonomers that enable comonomers to form homopolymers with acrylic resin 5,6 …”

“…4 To create suitable conditions for the reaction, it is common to use reactive comonomers that enable comonomers to form homopolymers with acrylic resin. 5,6 A common method for chemically modifying acrylic resins was using vinyl silicone monomers to react with acrylic monomers. 7 However, the high price of vinyl silicone monomer will increase the production cost of silicone-modified acrylic resin, which is not conducive to industrial production.…”

A delicately designed functional binder enabling in situ construction of 3D cross‐linking robust network for high‐performance Si/graphite composite anode

“…Siloxane is often used as functional material and polymer solid electrolyte, but it is rarely used as binder 37–39 . Herein lithium acrylate acid (AALi) and vinyl triethoxy silane (VTEO) were copolymerized in water to afford a functional siloxane‐containing aqueous binder (PAA‐VTEO) via a free‐radical initiated polymerization mechanism.…”

“…Siloxane is often used as functional material and polymer solid electrolyte, but it is rarely used as binder. [37][38][39] Herein lithium acrylate acid (AALi) and vinyl triethoxy silane (VTEO) were copolymerized in water to afford a functional siloxane-containing aqueous binder (PAA-VTEO) via a free-radical initiated polymerization mechanism. The VTEO moieties in the copolymer are anticipated to be hydrolyzed under weak acid/alkali conditions and produce Si OH groups, which are easy to condense with the Si OH from both silicon particles and the copolymer themselves to form a Si O Si chemical bond.…”