Creating Silicones: Exerting Control at Interfaces

尽管其成本高于有机替代品，但由于其独特的界面行为，有机硅聚合物几乎在发达经济体的每一个技术领域都有应用。由于缺乏有效的合成方法，大多数商业有机硅聚合物在分子量、支化频率和类型、官能团分布和网络结构方面都是不明确的混合物。驱动研究计划的假设是，精确结构的有机硅聚合物将提高我们增强界面的能力，从而产生具有增强性能的更高价值材料。除了纯有机硅之外，还将制备具有新亲水功能的新聚合物，以增强我们控制异质界面的能力。拟议研究的成果将是新的合成策略，从而产生新型有机硅聚合物，其应用范围从自润滑接触透镜表面到热稳定的LED圆顶。

In spite of their higher cost than organic alternatives, silicone polymers are found in almost every technological area of developed economies because of their unique interfacial behavior. Lacking efficient syntheses, most commercial silicone polymers are ill-defined mixtures with respect to molecular weight, frequency and type of branching, distribution of functional groups and network structures. The hypothesis driving the research program is that silicone polymers of precise structure will improve our ability to reinforce interfaces, leading to higher value materials with enhanced properties. In addition to pure silicones, new polymers with new hydrophilic functionalities will be prepared that can enhance our ability to control heterogeneous interfaces. The outcomes of the proposed research will be new synthetic strategies leading to novel silicone polymers with applications ranging from self-lubricating contact lens surfaces to thermally stable LED domes.