Rapid routes to highly branched, interfacially active silicones

有机硅聚合物是发达社会几乎所有技术领域的必需材料，从消泡剂到伤口敷料和人工晶状体。它们对酸和碱的敏感性意味着简单实用的合成会导致具有广泛性质的（较低价值）材料的复杂混合物。MQ和MDTQ树脂是一类价值特别高的有机硅树脂，市场价值超过20亿美元/年。这些超支化聚合物在弹性体和凝胶系统中提供高效的增强作用：在后一种情况下，它们还有助于粘性和粘附，例如在伤口敷料上。Piers-Rubinsztajn反应（PR）允许快速组装复杂的三维（3D）结构。在该研究项目中，我们建议通过创建可以以“混合匹配”方式组合的前体树枝化基元库来开发简便，工业实用，短（1-3步）的基于PR的超支化聚合物路线。产品的分子量（MW）范围为3000-10000 g/mol，记录其物理性质，并为某些应用建立支化和MW的最佳范围。将建立结构（MW，3D结构，包括几何形状和刚度）/性能（粘合，增强）关系。这种方法将取代传统的工业路线，导致性能较差的材料的复杂混合物。该项目为加拿大安大略省的一家公司开发有机硅产品，并直接实现其利益：Siltech目前将其大部分产品出口到美国和其他地方。此外，该项目将培训市场准备HQP，因为他们将通过研究和与我们的行业赞助商的直接互动学习技术，批判性思维和解决问题的技能。

Silicone polymers are requisite materials in almost every technological area of developed societies, from antifoams, to wound dressings and intraocular lenses. Their susceptibility to acid and base means that facile and practical synthesis leads to complex mixtures of (lower value) materials with broad ranges of properties. MQ and MDTQ resins comprise one class of particularly high value silicone resins, with a market value of over USD$ 2 billion dollars/year. These are hyperbranched polymers that provide highly efficient reinforcement in elastomer and gel systems: in the latter case they also facilitate tack and adhesion, for example, on wound dressings. The Piers-Rubinsztajn reaction (PR) permits the rapid assembly of complex 3 dimensional (3D) structures. In the research project we propose to develop facile, industrially practical, short (1-3 steps) PR-based routes to hyperbranched polymers by creating libraries of precursor dendrons that can be combined in a 'mix-and-match' manner. The products will range in molecular weight (MW) from 3000-10000 g/mol and their physical properties will be documented and the optimal range(s) of branching and MW will be established for certain applications. Structure (MW, 3D structure, including geometry and rigidity)/property (adhesion, reinforcement) relationships will be established. This approach will supplant traditional industrial routes that lead to complex mixtures of poorer performing materials. The proposed work has benefits to Canada through the development of silicones for an Ontario company that can realize the benefits directly: Siltech currently exports most of its products to the US and elsewhere. In addition, the project will train market ready HQP because of the technical, critical thinking and problem solving skills they will learn through their research and direct interaction with our industrial sponsor.