Hydrophilic silicone elastomers

• US 20070049716A1
• Filed: 08/31/2005
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Sayre, Curt
• Granted Patent: US 7,452,957 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 528/26
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 10/00 Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 40/00 Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 283/12 on to polysiloxanes
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 77/045 containing less than 25 silicon atoms
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 77/12 containing silicon bound to hydrogen C08G77/045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 77/20 containing silicon bound to unsaturated aliphatic groups C08G77/045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/34 Oxygen-containing compounds, including ammonium and metal salts
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 83/00 Compositions of macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions forming in the main chain of the macromolecule a linkage containing silicon with or without sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen or carbon only; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 83/04 Polysiloxanes
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 83/10 Block- or graft-copolymers containing polysiloxane sequences obtained by polymerising a compound having a carbon-to-carbon double bond on to a polysiloxane C08L51/08, C08L53/00
• CPC Class Codes: G03F 7/0002 Lithographic processes using patterning methods other than those involving the exposure to radiation, e.g. by stamping

Abstract

A silicone elastomer having hydrophilic properties is provided. The elastomer is a copolymer that is formed from a crosslinkable silicone composition, the silicone composition comprising an organopolysiloxane component and an ethylenically unsaturated monomer component. For example, the silicone composition may comprise:
i) an organopolysiloxane having the following general formula: wherein,

• • • each R₂ is individually selected from unsubstituted and substituted monovalent hydrocarbon groups containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms;
    • each R₃ is individually selected from unsubstituted and substituted alkenyl groups containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms; x≧1; and y≧0 and is an integer that is selected so that the organopolysiloxane contains an average of at least two alkenyl groups per molecule; ii) an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid; iii) a silicon hydride crosslinking agent; and iv) a platinum-based catalyst.

Claims

1. An elastomeric material having hydrophilic properties, wherein the elastomeric material comprises a crosslinked copolymer formed from a silicone composition, the silicone composition comprising an organopolysiloxane component and an ethylenically unsaturated monomer component.

2. The elastomeric material of claim 1, wherein the organopolysiloxane component comprises an organopolysiloxane having the following general formula:

3. The elastomeric material of claim 2, wherein the organopolysiloxane contains two or more alkenyl groups.

4. The elastomeric material of claim 3, wherein the organopolysiloxane has the following general formula:

5. The elastomeric material of claim 4, wherein the organopolysiloxane has the following general formula:

6. The elastomeric material of claim 1, wherein the organopolysiloxane component comprises from about 20 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of the silicone composition.

7. The elastomeric material of claim 1, wherein the ethylenically unsaturated monomer component comprises an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid.

8. The elastomeric material of claim 7, wherein the carboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, itaconic acid, sorbic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, oleic acid, and anhydrides thereof.

9. The elastomeric material of claim 8, wherein the carboxylic acid has a cis stereoisomer configuration.

10. The elastomeric material of claim 1, wherein the ethylenically unsaturated monomer component comprises a salt or ester of an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid.

11. The elastomeric material of claim 1, wherein the ethylenically unsaturated monomer component comprises from about 0.5 to about 10 wt. % of the silicone composition.

12. The elastomeric material of claim 1, wherein the ethylenically unsaturated monomer component comprises from about 2 to about 6 wt. % of the silicone composition.

13. The elastomeric material of claim 1, wherein the silicone composition further comprises a crosslinking agent.

14. The elastomeric material of claim 13, wherein the crosslinking agent is a silicon hydride capable of undergoing a hydrosilation reaction with the organopolysiloxane component.

15. The elastomeric material of claim 14, wherein the silicone hydride crosslinking agent has the following general formula:

16. The elastomeric material of claim 14, wherein the silicone composition further comprises a hydrosilation catalyst.

17. The elastomeric material of claim 16, wherein the catalyst contains a Group VIII transition metal.

18. The elastomeric material of claim 17, wherein the transition metal is platinum.

19. The elastomeric material of claim 18, wherein the catalyst is a platinum-vinylsiloxane complex.

20. The elastomeric material of claim 19, wherein the catalyst is Pt(0)-1,3-divinyl-1,1,3,3-tetramethyidiloxane.

21. The elastomeric material of claim 16, wherein the catalyst is dispersed in an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, halogenated hydrocarbons, and ethers.

22. A crosslinked copolymer that has an organopolysiloxane polymer backbone, wherein an ethylenically unsaturated monomer component is incorporated into the polymer backbone.

23. The crosslinked copolymer of claim 22, wherein the organopolysiloxane polymer backbone is formed from at least one organopolysiloxane having the following general formula:

24. The crosslinked copolymer of claim 23, wherein the organopolysiloxane has the following general formula:

25. The crosslinked copolymer of claim 22, wherein the ethylenically unsaturated monomer component comprises one or more ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids.

26. An elastomer that is formed by curing a silicone composition comprising:

i) an organopolysiloxane component that comprises an organopolysiloxane having the following general formula;

wherein,

each R₂ is individually selected from unsubstituted and substituted monovalent hydrocarbon groups containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms;

each R₃ is individually selected from unsubstituted and substituted alkenyl groups containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms;

x≧

1; and

y≧

0 and is selected so that the organopolysiloxane contains an average of at least two alkenyl groups per molecule;

ii) an ethylenically unsaturated monomer component that comprises an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid;

iii) a silicon hydride crosslinking agent; and

iv) a platinum-based catalyst.

27. The elastomer of claim 26, wherein the organopolysiloxane has the following general formula:

28. The elastomer of claim 26, wherein the organopolysiloxane component comprises from about 20 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of the silicone composition.

29. The elastomer of claim 26, wherein the carboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, itaconic acid, sorbic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, oleic acid, and anhydrides thereof.

30. The elastomer of claim 26, wherein the carboxylic acid has a cis stereoisomer configuration.

31. The elastomer of claim 26, wherein the ethylenically unsaturated monomer component comprises from about 0.5 to about 10 wt. % of the silicone composition.

32. The elastomer of claim 26, wherein the ethylenically unsaturated monomer component comprises from about 2 to about 6 wt. % of the silicone composition.

33. The elastomer of claim 26, wherein the silicone hydride crosslinking agent has the following general formula:

34. The elastomer of claim 26, wherein the catalyst is a platinum-vinylsiloxane complex.

35. The elastomer of claim 34, wherein the catalyst is Pt(0)-1,3-divinyl-1,1,3,3-tetramethyldiloxane.

36. The elastomer of claim 26, wherein the catalyst is dispersed in an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, halogenated hydrocarbons, and ethers.

37. The elastomer of claim 26, wherein curing occurs at a temperature of from about 20°

C. to about 30°

C.

38. The elastomer of claim 26, wherein the silicone composition is subjected to an extraction process after being cured.