Carbosilane/carbosiloxane-based ADMET homopolymers and copolymers possessing latent reactivity

Reactive methoxy-functionalized carbosilane and carbosiloxane dienes can be either homopolymerized or copolymerized via acyclic diene metathesis (ADME T) polycondensation chemistry to produce reactive materials with mechanical behavior dependent on the molar ratios of the comonomers. The methoxy-func tional group within the polycarbosilane repeat unit remains inert during th e metathesis polymerization and can be triggered subsequently with water to generate crosslinks between polymer chains. In this way, linear, thermopla stic copolymers can be prepared with ADMET chemistry and concerted into cro sslinked, thermoset copolymers upon exposure to moisture. Crosslinked films containing 5-10% of the crosslinked hard segment are soft and flexible mat erials. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.