Reversing hydrosilylation silicone elastomer curing

Silicone elastomers are used in a wide range of applications, including coatings, sealants, membranes, biomaterials, adhesives, and flexible electronics. Several synthesis methods are available for preparing silicone elastomers. The most common methods include addition-cure platinum-catalyzed hydrosilylation[1], thiol-ene addition[2], and condensation cure[3]. In a typical hydrosilylation curing reaction, telechelic vinyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymers are crosslinked by methylhydrosiloxane-dimethylsiloxane copolymers. This study explores the reversed version of the classical hydrosilylation curing system in which hydride-terminated PDMS is crosslinked with vinylmethylsiloxane-dimethylsiloxane copolymers. This enhanced knowledge will increase our understanding of traditional silicone elastomers and enable us to create even better elastomers in the future.