Both “condensation” and “hydrosilylation” reactions have
been successfully applied for the
synthesis of silicon-based interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs)
consisting of a stable Si−O and Si−C
linkage. We adopted a ladder silsesquioxane oligomer (LDS
1; commercial name, Glass Resin GR100)
and a polycarbosilane (PCS) by hydrosilylation polymerization of
bifunctional Si−H and Si−vinyl
monomers as the two components for the IPN. The combined LDS/PCS
curing system was studied to try
to obtain homogeneously cured material, which may lead to IPN
formation, by using both reactions
selectively in one pot for chain-extending and cross-linking of both
components, respectively. We
synthesized the cured LDS/PCS; LDS/PCS = 8/2, 5/5, and 2/8 [wt/wt].
Tuning the rates of the two
reactions to each other was important for obtaining a transparent cured
product. The morphology of the
cured LDS/PCS (8/2) was examined by TEM and AFM. TEM analysis
showed a good miscibility with an
nm level of LDS/PCS (8/2). The thermal and mechanical properties
of the LDS/PCS (8/2) cured sample
were better than the calculated values from each component's value.
The experimental data imply the
IPN structure of the cured LDS/PCS.