Organopolysiloxane-polyphenylene oxide block copolymers & method of preparation

Abstract

Abstract Novel block copolymers are provided having both polydiorganosiloxane segments and polyphenylene oxide segments. The block copolymers are selected from those having the formula: WHERE Q and L are chosen from the group consisting of: Option 1 - when Q is a single bond, L is a single bond forming a cyclic or infinite polymer; Option 2 - when Q is HO, then L is: WHERE R is one of a variety of organic substituents, R'' is a nonphenyl substituent; each R'''' is independently selected from the class consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl radicals having from one to six carbon atoms, and aryl radicals; phi is the phenyl substituent; a, b, c, and e are representative of the chain length of the polydiorganosiloxane components; n, p, x, and y are representative of the length of of polyphenylene oxide components; and d, f, g and h are indicative of the number of recurring units in the block copolymer, and each a, b, c, e, n, p, x, y, d, f, g and h are independent of each other, for example, the value of a in a polysiloxane block of a particular polymer can be different from the value of a second a in the same polymer. The block copolymers are formed by reacting polyphenylene oxide segments with polydiorganosiloxane segments which are chain terminated with amine groups. Additional length can be obtained through further reaction of the remaining amine groups. The materials produced according to this invention are useful in the formation of oriented films and fibers and as plasticizers for polyphenylene oxide. The films can be wrapped or extruded onto wires to provide electrical insulation. The films are also heat shrinkable and can be used to package turkeys using a heat shrinkable bag made from the film.

Inventors

• 👤 Karl W Krantz

Bibliographic Details