Concurrent chain extension and crosslinking of hydroxyl‐terminated poly(dimethyl siloxane): Possible formation of catenate structures

Abstract

Abstract Difunctional and tetrafunctional ethoxysilanes in varying proportions were used to simultaneously chain‐extend and crosslink dihydroxyl‐terminated poly(dimethyl siloxane). When only dimethyl deithoxysilane was used an insoluble product, possibly a catenate, was formed. Its swelling behavior was equivalent to that of a tetrafunctional network obtained by end‐linking chains approximately twice as long as those actually used.