Creating and Using More Sustainable Silicones

创造和使用更可持续的有机硅

• 批准号: RGPIN-2021-03455
• 负责人: Brook, Michael
• 金额: $ 5.76万
• 依托单位: McMaster University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=742427
• 关键词: Creating; Using; More; Sustainable; Silicones

Silicone polymers (typically based on (Me2OSi)n) monomers) are frequently key constituents in low tech - bathtub sealant - to high tech applications - wound dressings, LED lights, etc., because of their unusual and highly valuable properties. They are often used at much lower quantities/application than other materials and they exhibit efficient breakdown in the environment to CO2, H2O and sand. However, silicones cost more than organic polymers because of the very high energy input required for their synthesis (via silicon metal). Like other polymers and plastics there is an imperative to make silicones more sustainable by: using greener processes for the synthesis of their starting materials; the development of new green reactions, including cure chemistries (e.g., avoiding toxic metal catalysts) to create useful products; and producing less waste. This research program will improve the sustainability of silicone polymers by: i) using silicones as reagents for enhanced recovery of polymers, ii) preparing precise silicones with narrow ranges of desired properties so that less silicone is needed for given applications, iii) dilute the silicones with renewable, environmentally acceptable materials to give composites with interesting properties. Precise silicones will be prepared using the Piers-Rubinsztajn reaction; functional groups like SH, NH will be arrayed in precise locations on linear, branched and network polymers. Simple, high yielding reactions will introduce natural products at selected locations. These constituents include metal ion binding (chelating) moieties, sugars, and proteins that will convey to the silicones antibacterial activity and/or the ability to swell in water for wound dressings, or for energy damping. Silicone rubbers will also be reinforced with natural biopolymers including cellulose, gums, starch, and proteins like waste wool. High quality rubbers will result but, when composted, the materials will undergo fast breakdown of both the natural material and silicone. Bringing natural materials into silicones in a controlled way will require new synthetic strategies for polymer modification. An important outcome of this work is the development of effective methods to link water repellent silicones to water loving natural materials. These will lead to libraries of new silicones with new properties that can be exploited in evolving applications. The natural product will imbue enhanced sustainability of silicone polymers per kg, as judged by total energy input, feedstocks used, reusability/recyclability/compostability. As importantly, we will develop predictable rules relating silicone structure to properties, with respect to the variables: type of silicone, natural product, linker; and the physical and chemical ways that they have been combined. These rules and the compounds prepared, have potential for application by Canadian silicone industries. The larger impact will be the HQP trained during the research period.

有机硅聚合物（通常基于 (Me2OSi)n) 单体）通常是低技术（浴缸密封剂）到高科技应用（伤口敷料、LED 灯等）的关键成分，因为它们具有不寻常且非常有价值的特性。与其他材料相比，它们的使用量/应用量通常要低得多，并且它们在环境中可以有效分解为二氧化碳、水和沙子。然而，有机硅的成本高于有机聚合物，因为其合成（通过硅金属）需要非常高的能量输入。与其他聚合物和塑料一样，必须通过以下方式使有机硅更具可持续性： 使用更环保的工艺来合成其原材料；开发新的绿色反应，包括固化化学（例如，避免有毒金属催化剂）以创造有用的产品；并减少废物的产生。该研究计划将通过以下方式提高有机硅聚合物的可持续性：i) 使用有机硅作为试剂来增强聚合物的回收率，ii) 制备具有窄范围所需性能的精确有机硅，从而减少给定应用所需的有机硅，iii) 稀释有机硅与可再生、环保的材料一起提供具有有趣特性的复合材料。将使用 Piers-Rubinsztajn 反应制备精密有机硅； SH、NH 等官能团将排列在线性、支化和网络聚合物上的精确位置。简单、高产的反应将在选定的位置引入天然产物。这些成分包括金属离子结合（螯合）部分、糖和蛋白质，它们将赋予有机硅抗菌活性和/或在水中膨胀的能力，用于伤口敷料或能量阻尼。硅橡胶还将用天然生物聚合物进行增强，包括纤维素、树胶、淀粉和废羊毛等蛋白质。将会产生高质量的橡胶，但是当堆肥时，这些材料将快速分解天然材料和硅树脂。 以受控方式将天然材料引入有机硅将需要新的聚合物改性合成策略。这项工作的一个重要成果是开发了将防水有机硅与亲水天然材料连接起来的有效方法。这些将产生具有新特性的新型有机硅库，可在不断发展的应用中加以利用。根据总能量输入、使用的原料、可重复使用性/可回收性/可堆肥性来判断，天然产品将增强每公斤有机硅聚合物的可持续性。同样重要的是，我们将制定有关有机硅结构与特性的可预测规则，涉及以下变量：有机硅类型、天然产物、连接体；以及它们结合的物理和化学方式。这些规则和制备的化合物有可能被加拿大有机硅行业应用。影响较大的将是研究期间培训的总部人员。