Thermoplastic silicone elastomers as materials exhibiting high mechanical properties and/or self-healing propensity

Abstract

Silicones are outstanding elastomers with e.g. great thermal properties and purity that make them important commercial materials. Current Research and Development aim at generating filler-free, non-cross-linked materials so that to bring to them transparency, reusability, and self-healing propensity. This mini review gives, first a short summary of conventional thermoplastic silicone elastomers genesis, and then some examples of current research in synthesis and processing of silicone-based physically cross-linked elastomers.

Abbreviations: DSC: differential scanning calorimetry; FLD: filament deposing technique; HMDI: 4,4′-methylene bis(cyclohexylisocyanate); HS: hard segment; IPDI: isophorone diisocyanate; NMR: nuclear magnetic resonance; PDMS: polydimethylsiloxane; PEO: polyethylene oxide; PEU: polyethyleneoxide-based copolymers; PPO: polypropylene oxide; PSU: PDMS-based urea copolymers; SEC: size exclusion chromatorgraphy; SS: soft segment; Tg: glass transition; TGA: thermal gravimetric analysis; THF: tetrahydrofuran; TPS: thermoplastic silicone elastomer; TMXDI: tetramethylxylene diisocyanate; TPU: thermoplastic urethane

Keywords:

• Silicone
• thermoplastic
• urea
• copolymers
• elastomers

Acknowledgements

Elkem Silicones company and ANR supports are greatly acknowledged for most of the work done in our laboratory throughout the years on this topic.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).