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Preparation of PDMS STEM gels through oxygen tolerance nitroxide mediated polymerization

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Abstract

The postsynthesis polymeric modifications by grafting from the active sites were the primary focus of the structurally tailored and engineered macromolecular (STEM) gels. Therefore, Reversible-deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP) techniques have been employed to more precisely tailor and tune STEM gels. In contrast to atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT), nitroxide-mediated polymerization (NMP) is known to have the advantages of simple components and pure products. Here we report the preparation of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composite gel networks through oxygen tolerance NMP process, with tert-Butyl acrylate (tBA) and fluorinated monomer 2-(Perfluorooctyl)ethyl methacrylate (FMA) as functional comonomers. Compared with conventional radical polymerization (FRP) method, composite gels prepared through NMP method showed higher swelling rate and elongation at break, which proved that the network structure formed by NMP was more uniform. In addition to better thermal stability and toughness, the dormant polymer chain could be reactivated and lead to the “living” post-modification of PDMS gel matrix.

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Acknowledgements

The financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.51973201, U1804128, to **nchang Pang; Grant No.52173209, to Yanjie He), the National Science Foundation for Young Scientists of China (Grant No. 22105179, to Ge Shi) and Scientific & technological research projects in Henan Province (222102520009, to **aoguang Qiao) are greatly appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Materials Engineering, Henan Engineering Technology Research Center for Fiber Preparation and Modification, Henan International Joint Laboratory of Rare Earth Composite Materials, Henan University of Engineering, Zhengzhou, 451191, P. R, China

    **aoguang Qiao

  2. Henan Joint International Research Laboratory of Living Polymerizations and Functional Nanomaterials, Henan Key Laboratory of Advanced Nylon Materials and Application, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China

    **aoguang Qiao, **n Dong, Ge shi, Yanjie He & **nchang Pang

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  1. **aoguang Qiao
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Correspondence to **aoguang Qiao or **nchang Pang.

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Qiao, X., Dong, X., shi, G. et al. Preparation of PDMS STEM gels through oxygen tolerance nitroxide mediated polymerization. J Polym Res 30, 370 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-023-03732-4

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