Silicone copolymers bearing reactive vinyl and hydride functionalities: Synthesis, characterisation and particulate composite thereof for specialty applications

High molecular weight vinyl terminated poly (dimethyl-co-diphenyl)siloxane polymer (V-PDMPS) was synthesised by a multistage process including hydrolysis of precursor chlorosilanes and their anionic polymerization followed by chain termination. The low molecular weight hydride functional crosslinker for V-PDMPS, trimethylsilyl terminated poly (dimethyl-co-methylhydrogen-co-diphenyl)siloxane, (TMS-PDMHS) was synthesised by ring opening polymerisation of cyclic siloxanes. These two novel addition curable polymers were characterized by FTIR, NMR and chromatographic methods. Further, the role of catalyst and moderator in determining the rheological characteristics of the system was studied in detail. V-PDMPS was compounded with both pristine quartz and surface functionalised quartz (TMCS- quartz) in different compositions and the effect of these fillers in determining the adhesive, mechanical and rheological properties of the elastomer was investigated. The addition curable silicone polymer based formulations with low outgassing characteristics and having adequate mechanical and rheological properties developed in this study can find potential applications in aerospace, especially as adhesive. Surface functionalised TMCS-treated quartz imparted promising adhesive, mechanical and rheological properties to the novel addition cure silicone elastomer. [Display omitted] •High molecular weight vinyl terminated poly(dimethyl-co-diphenyl)siloxane synthesised.•The polymer is syntheisized via anionic polymerization followed by chain termination.•The crosslinker is synthesized via cationic ring opening polymerization.•The filled polymer system shows good adhesive and mechanical characteristics.•They can be used for aerospace applications owing to low outgassing characteristics.