Creating and Using More Sustainable Silicones

创造和使用更可持续的有机硅

• 批准号: RGPIN-2021-03455
• 负责人: Brook, Michael
• 金额: $ 5.76万
• 依托单位: McMaster University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=742427
• 关键词: Creating; Using; More; Sustainable; Silicones

Silicone polymers (typically based on (Me2OSi)n) monomers) are frequently key constituents in low tech - bathtub sealant - to high tech applications - wound dressings, LED lights, etc., because of their unusual and highly valuable properties. They are often used at much lower quantities/application than other materials and they exhibit efficient breakdown in the environment to CO2, H2O and sand. However, silicones cost more than organic polymers because of the very high energy input required for their synthesis (via silicon metal). Like other polymers and plastics there is an imperative to make silicones more sustainable by: using greener processes for the synthesis of their starting materials; the development of new green reactions, including cure chemistries (e.g., avoiding toxic metal catalysts) to create useful products; and producing less waste. This research program will improve the sustainability of silicone polymers by: i) using silicones as reagents for enhanced recovery of polymers, ii) preparing precise silicones with narrow ranges of desired properties so that less silicone is needed for given applications, iii) dilute the silicones with renewable, environmentally acceptable materials to give composites with interesting properties. Precise silicones will be prepared using the Piers-Rubinsztajn reaction; functional groups like SH, NH will be arrayed in precise locations on linear, branched and network polymers. Simple, high yielding reactions will introduce natural products at selected locations. These constituents include metal ion binding (chelating) moieties, sugars, and proteins that will convey to the silicones antibacterial activity and/or the ability to swell in water for wound dressings, or for energy damping. Silicone rubbers will also be reinforced with natural biopolymers including cellulose, gums, starch, and proteins like waste wool. High quality rubbers will result but, when composted, the materials will undergo fast breakdown of both the natural material and silicone. Bringing natural materials into silicones in a controlled way will require new synthetic strategies for polymer modification. An important outcome of this work is the development of effective methods to link water repellent silicones to water loving natural materials. These will lead to libraries of new silicones with new properties that can be exploited in evolving applications. The natural product will imbue enhanced sustainability of silicone polymers per kg, as judged by total energy input, feedstocks used, reusability/recyclability/compostability. As importantly, we will develop predictable rules relating silicone structure to properties, with respect to the variables: type of silicone, natural product, linker; and the physical and chemical ways that they have been combined. These rules and the compounds prepared, have potential for application by Canadian silicone industries. The larger impact will be the HQP trained during the research period.

有机硅聚合物（通常基于（Me 2 OSi）n）单体）通常是低技术-浴缸密封剂-到高技术应用-伤口敷料、LED灯等中的关键成分，因为它们具有非同寻常的高价值特性。它们的使用量/应用通常比其他材料低得多，并且它们在环境中表现出有效的分解为CO2，H2O和沙子。然而，有机硅的成本高于有机聚合物，因为它们的合成（通过硅金属）需要非常高的能量输入。与其他聚合物和塑料一样，必须通过以下方式使有机硅更具可持续性：使用更环保的工艺合成其原材料;开发新的绿色反应，包括固化化学（例如，避免有毒金属催化剂）以产生有用的产品;以及产生更少的废物。该研究计划将通过以下方式提高有机硅聚合物的可持续性：i）使用有机硅作为提高聚合物回收率的试剂，ii）制备具有窄范围所需性能的精确有机硅，以便在特定应用中需要更少的有机硅，iii）用可再生的环境可接受的材料稀释有机硅，以获得具有有趣性能的复合材料。精确的有机硅将使用Piers-Rubinsztajn反应制备; SH，NH等官能团将在线性，支化和网络聚合物上的精确位置排列。简单、高产的反应将在选定的位置引入天然产物。这些成分包括金属离子结合（螯合）部分、糖和蛋白质，它们将赋予硅酮抗菌活性和/或在水中溶胀的能力，用于伤口敷料或能量阻尼。硅橡胶也将用天然生物聚合物增强，包括纤维素、树胶、淀粉和蛋白质，如废羊毛。高品质的橡胶将产生，但当堆肥，材料将经历快速分解的天然材料和硅树脂。 以可控的方式将天然材料引入有机硅中需要新的聚合物改性合成策略。这项工作的一个重要成果是开发了将防水有机硅与亲水天然材料相结合的有效方法。这些将导致具有新特性的新有机硅库，可用于不断发展的应用。根据总能量输入、所用原料、可重复使用性/可回收性/可堆肥性判断，天然产品将增强每公斤有机硅聚合物的可持续性。同样重要的是，我们将制定可预测的规则，将有机硅结构与性能联系起来，这些规则涉及变量：有机硅类型，天然产物，连接剂;以及它们结合的物理和化学方式。这些规则和所制备的化合物具有在加拿大有机硅工业中应用的潜力。影响较大的将是在研究期间培训的HQP。