![Sample our Physical Sciences journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/110819/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Physical-Sciences.jpg"})
Abstract
α, ω-dihydroxyl polydimethylsiloxane (DHPDMS) was prepared via anionic ring-opening polymerization of octamethyl cyclotetrasiloxane (D4) under microwave irradiation (MI) in the presence of water. The conversion and polymerization rate were calculated by the gravimetric method. The effect of microwave power on the polymerization was investigated. FTIR was used to verify the DHPDMS prepared at different irradiation times. The results show that the conversion is the highest when the initial microwave power is preset at 700 W. Compared with conventional heating (CH), the polymerization rate and equilibrium conversion are both enhanced by the introduction of microwave irradiation. The species and concentration of the cyclosiloxane mixture caused by backbiting reaction were determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The lower concentration of cyclosiloxane in the polymer prepared under MI indicates that side reactions have been reduced and a pure polymer obtained. The molecular weight and polydispersity index (PDI) measured by GPC show that under MI, the molecular weight of DHPDMS is lower and PDI is narrower than those under CH.