Metal-Free Curing of 3D Printable Silicone Elastomers via Thermally Triggered 2-Oxazoline Cross-Linkers.

ABSTRACT: Silicone elastomers are commonly cured by hydrosilylation or condensation reactions, both of which require metal-based catalysts. Due to environmental, toxicological, and cost concerns, there is considerable interest in developing metal-free alternatives. Herein, we present a novel solution via an atom-efficient, catalyst-free ring-opening of poly(2-isopropenyl-2-oxazoline) (PiPOx) as a curing agent. PiPOx are macromolecules bearing pendant reactive 2-oxazoline groups capable of undergoing a ring-opening reaction in the presence of carboxylic acids to give covalent amide-ester bonds. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) chains with COOH moieties at the chain ends could be effectively cured with PiPOx as a latent curing agent. The reaction does not proceed at room temperature but cures in less than

SUBMITTER: Strasser P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11912537 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature