Ring-opening polymerization in aqueous emulsion applied to the preparationof interpenetrating networks based on telechelic polysiloxanes

Anionic ring-opening polymerization of 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-1,3,5,7-tetraphe nyIcycIotetrasiloxane (c-PMPS tetramer) was performed by using the new proc ess of aqueous emulsion Suitable conditions were found which lead to the fo rmation of stable emulsions, and telechelic oligomers with alpha,omega-SiOH end groups having a remarkably narrow molecular weight distribution ((M) o ver bar(w)/(M) over bar(n) < 1.3) were obtained. Reproducible results and a tremendous reduction of back-biting reactions are observed by using this v ery simple process which does not require the drastic purifications of the classical anionic polymerization. Those telechelic PMPS oligomers were used to prepare transparent interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) with polyb enzyl or polymethylmethacrylate networks.