Abstract: A process for manufacturing high molecular weight, alternating polysiloxane copolymers, by solid-liquid phase, nonaqueous, interfacial polymerization. The copolymers consist of alternating siloxane repeating units of the (AB).sub.m type, such as diphenylsiloxane units and dimethylsiloxane units, alternately polymerized together to form the copolymer. The solid-liquid phase interfacial polymerization process is fast, proceeds smoothly at room temperature, and is not reversible, i.e., no cyclic siloxane species are generated. The resulting polysiloxanes can be formed into thermoplastic elastomers which are suitable for use as sealants, fillers, and films.

Abstract: An exchange reaction of hydroxyl and alkoxysilane is used as a polymerization avenue yielding hyperbranched polymers. A monomer containing hydroxy alcohol functionality and alkoxy functionality attached to a silicon atom in the monomer is employed, and a simple exchange reaction with driving off of alcohol by-product leads to the desired hyperbranched polymerization and materials.

Abstract: Substrates are rendered water repellent by applying to the substrate a hyperbranched polymer containing a silicon atom made by polymerizing a derivatized aminofunctional organosilicon monomer which is the reaction product of an amine functional silane monomer precursor or an amine functional polysiloxane monomer precursor and a derivative of carbonic acid or a cyclic lactone.

Abstract: Dialkali metal organosilanolate and dialkali metal organosiloxanolate salts are manufactured from cyclic siloxanes or linear silicone polymers using a heterogeneous interfacial reaction process. A stoichiometric excess of an alkali metal hydroxide such as potassium hydroxide or an alkali metal oxide as a solid or dissolved or dispersed in a compatible solvent, is prepared and used as a first phase. The cyclic siloxane or linear silicone polymer is placed in a second phase either dissolved or dispersed in another solvent which is immiscible with the first phase. The resulting silanolate and siloxanolate salts can be used as monomers for solid-liquid phase and liquid-liquid phase interfacial polymerization or in a polycondensation process for the synthesis of alternating siloxane polymers. They can also be used as ring opening initiators for the base catalyzed polymerization of cyclic siloxanes.

Abstract: A curable silicone is used to encapsulate porous, photoluminescing silica nanoparticles having three-dimensional, web-like structures. The encapsulation protects the silica nanoparticles, preserves their photoluminescent effect, and can be used as a coating. The composition is used to prepare articles of manufacture by casting it on a substrate such as glass or a silicon wafer and curing it. Special effects can be obtained by using a mask on the substrate prior to deposit of nanoparticles and curing the silicone matrix.

Abstract: Organosilicon aldehydes and ketones are prepared by a method in which an organosilicon compound containing ozonide functionality is first formed by exposing an organosilicon compound containing unsaturation to ozone. The organosilicon compound containing ozonide functionality is then reduced to the corresponding organosilicon aldehyde or ketone with a reducing agent. One preferred reducing agent is a combination of zinc and acetic acid. Complete conversion of the ozonide to the carbonyl (.dbd.C.dbd.O) compound is obtained when the ozonide containing the reducing agent is heated briefly to about 30.degree. C.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of potassium silanolates comprising reacting a mixture comprising solid potassium hydroxide and a polyorganosiloxane described by formula R.sup.1 R.sup.1 R.sup.2.sub.2 SiO(R.sup.2.sub.2 SiO).sub.m R.sup.3 or (R.sup.2.sub.2 SiO).sub.n, where m is an integer from 1 to about 1000, n is an integer from 3 to about 20, R.sup.1 a hydroxyl group or an alkoxy group comprising from 1 to about 8 carbon atoms and R.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom or an independently selected substituted or unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon group comprising from 1 to about 8 carbon atoms R.sup.3 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group comprising from 1 to 8 carbon atoms in the presence of an organic solvent which forms an azeotrope with water at a temperature within a range of about 90.degree. C. to 150.degree. C. thereby forming a potassium silanolate.

Abstract: A novel method for making stable aqueous microemulsions of high molecular weight polydiorganosiloxanes which comprises sequentially adding at an effective rate a standard emulsion comprised of polydiorganosiloxane precursor, surfactant, and water to a polymerization catalyst medium while mixing to form a clear, stable aqueous microemulsion of polydiorganosiloxane.

Abstract: A method in which radical polymerization of a vinyl monomer is initiated by an ozonide group attached to a silane or a siloxane polymer. The method is particularly useful for preparing organic polymers having a silicone chain end, or for preparing wide ranges of silicone/organic polymers and copolymers with varied architecture, i.e., ABA block copolymers, comb polymers, star polymers, and hyper-branched polymers. In one embodiment, the method is carried out by simply heating a vinyl monomer in the presence of a silane containing ozonide functionality. The ozonide silane is obtained by exposing silanes or siloxanes having an alkyl group containing a double bond to ozone. Surprisingly, an ozonide attached to an organosilicon compound was found to be stable, and capable of initiating vinyl polymerization upon heating to moderate temperatures, i.e., about 70.degree. C.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing block copolymers containing a polyorganosiloxane segment, by dual polymerization involving (i) polycondensation of a silicone block followed by (ii) the free radical polymerization of a monomer that can be polymerized by free radical polymerization, such as a vinyl containing organic monomer. Initiation of free radical polymerization in step (ii) is carried out with a carbonyl functional group attached to the silicone polymer block. The carbonyl functional silicone polymer, preferably an aldehyde functional silicone polymer, is included as one component of a copper-based Redox initiating system. The method ensures no free homopolymerization, complete reactivity, and various polymer architectures are possible, including for example, polymeric structures such as AB, ABA, (AB).sub.n, brush, and radiant types. The method is fast, effective, convenient, and easier to control than typical ionic polymerization techniques.

Abstract: A method for neutralizing a polyorganosiloxane mixture. The method comprises (A) contacting a mixture comprising a polyorganosiloxane and an acid with a neutralizing amount of a solid organic base at a mixture temperature above the melting temperature of the solid organic base forming a molten organic base and forming an insoluble adduct of the acid with the molten organic base, (B) lowering the mixture temperature to effect solidification of residual molten organic base to residual solid organic base, and (C) effecting separation of the insoluble adduct and the residual solid organic base from the polyorganosiloxane mixture. The present invention is especially useful for neutralizing mixtures comprising polyorganosiloxane mixtures where the polyorganosiloxane comprises hydrogen atoms bonded to silicon.

Abstract: Polysiloxanes having pendant and/or telechelic carbonyl functionality, i.e., aldehyde functionality .tbd.Si--R--CH.dbd.O or ketone functionality .tbd.Si--R--CR.dbd.O, are manufactured in high yield by ozonolysis of polydiorganosiloxanes containing alkenyl groups, followed by treatment with a reducing agent such as zinc and acetic acid. The process is relatively fast and economical using readily available starting materials such as hexenyl-functional polymers. In particular, aldehyde functionality on the polymer can be used as a polymeric crosslinking agent.

Abstract: A method for stabilizing a mixture comprising a polydiorganosiloxane and an alkali metal. The method comprises contacting a polydiorganosiloxane and an alkali metal with a siloxy phosphonate described by formula ##STR1## where each R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 is an independently selected hydrocarbon comprising one to about 12 carbon atoms, n=0 or 1, and x, y, and z are integers, where x=1 to 1000, y=0 to 1000, and z=0 to 1000.

Abstract: A method in which radical polymerization of a vinyl monomer is initiated by an ozonide group attached to a silane or a siloxane polymer. The method is particularly useful for preparing organic polymers having a silicone chain end, or for preparing wide ranges of silicone/organic polymers and copolymers with varied architecture, i.e., ABA block copolymers, comb polymers, star polymers, and hyper-branched polymers. In one embodiment, the method is carried out by simply heating a vinyl monomer in the presence of a silane containing ozonide functionality. The ozonide silane is obtained by exposing silanes or siloxanes having an alkyl group containing a double bond to ozone. Surprisingly, an ozonide attached to an organosilicon compound was found to be stable, and capable of initiating vinyl polymerization upon heating to moderate temperatures, i.e., about 70.degree. C.

Abstract: A web-like nanoparticle silicon is produced by laser vaporization of silicon metal in an oxygen-free atmosphere in a diffusion cloud chamber where it aggregates into novel web-like microstructures. The aggregates are porous, and bright yellow to orange photoluminescence from the web-like nanoparticle silicon is observed upon irradiation with ultraviolet light.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing high molecular weight polysiloxane copolymers by interfacial polymerization. The polysiloxanes may contain phenylmethyl siloxane blocks and dimethyl siloxane blocks, alternately polymerized together to form an (A.sub.m B.sub.n).sub.x type copolymer. The interfacial polymerization process is fast, proceeds smoothly at room temperature, and is not reversible, i.e., no cyclic siloxane species are generated. The polysiloxanes can be formed as thermoplastic elastomers suitable for use as sealants, fillers, and films.

Abstract: An interfacial polymerization process wherein organosilicon reactants are dissolved in mutually immiscible, nonaqueous solvents, and a condensation product is formed at the interface. This technique has many of the advantages of analogous organic interfacial polymerization, and may be used, for example, to prepare crosslinked films, fibers, particles, or encapsulants. Structures which cannot be prepared by other routes can be made. In particular, a well-defined alternating dimethyl/diphenyl siloxane block copolymer can be prepared by condensing a dihalo organosilicon compound such as diphenyldichlorosilane (C.sub.6 H.sub.5).sub.2 SiCl.sub.2 in diphenyl ether with a dimethyl silanolate in cyclohexane. The advantages are ability to control polymer structure, and there is no rearrangement during polymerization.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing elastomeric fibers in which fibers are obtained by co-extruding an extrudable and curable .tbd.SiO-- containing material and an aqueous organic polymer solution into a coagulation bath. The .tbd.SiO-- containing material is surrounded by the coagulated organic polymer. The .tbd.SiO-- containing material is then cured inside the protective sheath that is formed, and thereafter the organic polymer sheath is dissolved to expose a continuous elastomeric fiber of the .tbd.SiO-- material.

Abstract: A web-like nanoparticle silica is produced by laser vaporization of silicon metal in a helium/oxygen atmosphere in a diffusion cloud chamber where it aggregates into novel web-like microstructures. The aggregates are porous and have a surface area greater than 300 m.sup.2 /g. Bright blue photoluminescence from the web-like nanoparticle silica is observed upon irradiation with ultraviolet light.

Abstract: Coatings of hydrophilic organic polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol are grafted to substrates formed from hydrophobic organic polymers and polyorganosiloxanes by exposing the surface of the substrate to an aqueous solution of the hydrophilic polymer in the presence of a solubilized compound of tetravalent cerium that preferably contains hydroxyl or amino groups as ligands.