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

Anionic ring-opening polymerization of 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-1,3,5,7-tetraphenyIcycIotetrasiloxane (c-PMPS tetramer) was performed by using the new process of aqueous emulsion Suitable conditions were found which lead to the formation of stable emulsions, and telechelic oligomers with alpha,omega-SiOH end groups having a remarkably narrow molecular weight distribution ((M) over 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 very 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 polybenzyl or polymethylmethacrylate networks.