Synthesis of unsymmetrically and symmetrically functionalized disiloxanes via subsequent hydrosilylation of C≡C bonds

A selective synthesis of unsymmetrically functionalized disiloxanes via the subsequent hydrosilylation of internal alkynes in the first step, and alkynes (terminal or internal) or 1,3-diynes in the second, with 1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane (1) is presented for the first time. Using developed approaches performed in a stepwise or one-pot manner a new family of disubstituted disiloxanes was obtained which had previously been inaccessible by other synthetic methods. Moreover, symmetrically functionalized disiloxanes were obtained by direct hydrosilylation of 2 equivalents of terminal or internal alkynes with 1, showing the unique versatility of the hydrosilylation process. Three examples of symmetric disiloxanes were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction for the first time. As a result, a wide group of new compounds which can find potential applications as building blocks or coupling agents was obtained and characterized.

Enhancing Toughness and Impact Strength of Epoxy Resins by Using Hyperbranched Polymers

Toughened epoxy has been widely used in industrial areas such as automotive and electronics. In this study, nanosized hyperbranched polymers (HBPs) as a flexibilizer are synthesized and embedded into epoxy resin to enhance the toughness and flexibility. Two different HBPs, hyperbranched poly(methylacrylate-diethanolamine) (poly(MA-DEA)) and poly(methylacrylate- ethanolamine) (poly(MA-EA)), were prepared and blended with both epoxy and polyetheramine, a curing agent. The molecular size of HBPs was estimated to be 6 ~ 14 nm in diameter. The molecular weight of HBPs ranges from 1500(1.5 K) to 7000(7.0 K) g/mol. In cured epoxy/HBP blends, no phase separations are occurred, indicating that HBPs possess sufficient miscibility with epoxy. The tensile toughness of the blends increased with changing the molecular weight of HBPs without sacrificing tensile strengths. The impact strength of the blends increases stiffly until the loading % of HBPs in the blends reaches 10 wt%. In addition, the experimental studies showed that impact resistance also increased with an increase in molecular weight of HBPs. The obtained impact resistance of the epoxy/HBP blends with 10 wt% was 270% more effective compared to that of cured neat epoxy.

Synthesis of bifunctional disiloxanes via subsequent hydrosilylation of alkenes and alkynes

The first protocol for the synthesis of unsymmetrical bifunctional 1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane derivatives via subsequent hydrosilylation of alkenes and alkynes is presented. The methodology described has vast functional group tolerance and is extremely efficient towards the formation of novel disiloxane-based building blocks.

Pt(0)-Catalysed synthesis of new bifunctional silanes

We report herein very efficient syntheses of new functional silanes obtained via olefin hydrosilylation. New bifunctional compounds contain attractive functional groups such as epoxy, fluoroalkyl, trisilylamine, chloropropyl, and methacroiloxy which can play different roles in molecular systems. Moreover, the catalytic system proposed by us exhibits high selectivity and tolerance to a wide range of functional groups. It also permitted obtaining total conversions of the starting reagents in a relatively short time under mild conditions.

Synthesis of a Degradable High-Performance Epoxy-Ended Hyperbranched Polyester

Degradation and recycling of cured thermosetting epoxy resins are major challenges to the industry. Here, a low-viscosity, degradable epoxy-ended hyperbranched polyester (DEHP) is synthesized by a reaction between epichlorohydrin and a carboxyl-ended hyperbranched polyester (DCHP) obtained from an esterification between citric acid and maleic anhydride. The chemical structures of DCHP and DEHP were characterized by Fourier transform infrared and ¹H NMR. DEHP has a positive effect on reinforcing and toughening of the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA). With an increase in the content and molecular weight of DEHP, the mechanical performances of the cured DEHP/DGEBA composites, including the tensile, flexural, and impact strengths, increase first and then decrease. The improvements on the tensile, flexural, and impact strengths were 34.2-43.4%, 35.6-48.1%, and 117.9-137.8%, respectively. Moreover, the DEHP also promotes degradation of the cured DEHP/DGEBA composites. The degree of degradation of the cured DEHP/DGEBA composites increases with an increase of the DEHP content and molecular weight. The composites containing 12 wt % DEHP can be degraded completely in only about 2 h at about 90 °C, compared with the degradation degree (35%) of cured DGEBA, indicating good degradation and recycling properties of the DEHP.

Epoxy Resins Toughened with Surface Modified Epoxidized Natural Rubber Fibers by One-Step Electrospinning

Epoxidized natural rubber fibers (ERFs) are developed through one-step electrospinning and directly deposited into epoxy resins without collecting and distributing of fibers. The shape of ERFs shows rough surface due to different evaporation rate of solvent mixture consisting of chloroform and dichloromethane and the average diameter of ERFs is 6.2 µm. The increase of ERFs loading from 0 to 20 wt % into the epoxy resin increases the fracture strain significantly from 1.2% to 13% and toughness from 0.3 MPa to 1.9 MPa by a factor of 7. However, the tensile strength and Young’s modulus decrease about 34% from 58 MPa to 34 MPa and from 1.4 GPa to 0.9 GPa, respectively. Due to the crosslinking reactions between oxirane groups of ERFs and amine groups in the resin, surface roughness and the high aspect ratio of ERFs, ERFs result in more effective toughening effect with the minimum loss of tensile properties in epoxy resins.

Preparation of SBA-15 with penetrating pores and their performance in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis

A novel SBA-15 material containing penetrating pores as supports of Co-based Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis (FTS) catalysts exhibits high catalytic performance due to improving access for reagent molecules to reach the active site, resulting in a facile transport of heavy hydrocarbons.

Environmentally friendly high performance homopolymerized epoxy using hyperbranched epoxy as a modifier

A high performance, low cost, and environmentally friendly epoxy is demonstrated for the first time by copolymerizing a small amount of epoxide-terminated hyperbranched polyether with DGEBA.

Investigation of the preparation and superior properties of novel propylene-based elastic HMAs

The propylene-based elastic HMAs with higher adhesive and elasticity had excellent ability of weather resistance, which alleviated the interface delamination caused by the different thermal shrinkage between the steel and plastic interface.

Hyperbranched polymers: advances from synthesis to applications

This review summarizes the advances in hyperbranched polymers from the viewpoint of structure, click synthesis and functionalization towards their applications in the last decade.