TECHNOLOGY CATEGORIES: PHOTONICS; MEMBRANES; SPECIALTY COATINGS

KEYWORDS: Hyperbranched polymers, Silicon-containing hyperbranched polymers, Latent functionality, Polycarbosiloxanes, Hydrosilylation, Alkoxysilyl groups

DESCRIPTION: This technology enables the preparation of hyperbranched polymers with a plurality of at least two different types of functional groups by the method of bimolecular nonlinear polymerization. It involves reacting a monomer having 2 or more functional groups A and another monomer having 3 or more functional groups B wherein functional groups A and B react with each other to create a polymer molecule during the polymerization reaction but do not react with themselves. In addition either or both monomers can contain one or more other types of functional groups that are not reactive in the polymerization reaction but may undergo various other reactions after the polymerization is completed (i.e., they act as latent functionalities). Structurally, A and B groups are hyperbranched polymer end-groups, while latent functionalities are regularly distributed throughout the interiors of the polymer molecules. Specific embodiments include examples of polymerization by hydrosilylation where A is SiH and B is Si-CH₂=CH or SiCH₂CH=CH₂ end-groups while latent functionalities are alkoxysilyl SiOCH₃ or SiOCH₂CH₃ groups.    

BENEFITS: These polymers offer a wide variety of possible applications either in their as-obtained state or as 3D networks crosslinked into various forms of films, sheets, coatings or membranes, Such applications range from attachment of various species, including molecules of drugs, markers, sensors, catalysts, optically or electronically active assemblies, dies, pigments, flavors, etc., to inclusion of various guest species by specific host-guest interactions into the nanoscopic hyprbranched domains. Of particular interest are unique possibilities of self-reinforcing or self-healing that these networks can achieve via catalyzed hydrolysis and subsequent condensation of the latent alkoxysilyl groups. These properties can have specific applications in sealants, gaskets, O-rings and other rubber parts.         

STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT: Feasibility has been demonstrated for the preparation of the above named polymers and for most of the above mentioned applications. Research quantity samples can be obtained through special arrangements with MMI and/or Dendritech, Inc.

PATENT: Dvornic, P.R., Hu, J., Meier, D.J., Nowak, R.M., Hyperbranched Polymers with Latent Functionality and Methods of Making Same, US 6,646,089 B2, 2003.

REFERENCES: (a) Dvornic, P.R.; Hu, J.; Meier, D.J.; Nowak, R.M., Silicon-containing Hyperbranched Polymers via Bimolecular Polymerization, Polym. Prepr., 2004, 45(1), 585. (b) Dvornic, P.R.; Meier, D.J., Hyperbranched Silicon-containing Polymers via Bimolecular Non-Linear Polymerization, in Silicon-Containing Dendritic Polymers, Dvornic, P.R.;Owen, M.J., Eds., Springer, 2009, pp. 401-419.