The influence of nanofiller on the properties of biocompatible silicone based on different network precursors

Abstract

The choice of starting network precursors for elastomeric material preparation is highly important in order to obtain materials for specific application. During the cross linking of macromolecules, with the choice of type and quantity of the components, it is possible to fine tuning material flexibility, mechanical and chemical characteristics. Silicones, more precisly polysiloxanes, are for sure one of most interested class of elastomeric materials. For decades silicones are under huge interest of academical and industrial researches so the fields of their potentially usages are broad (electronics, personal care products, structural engineering and textiles, medicine, sports equipment...). Silicones, because of their extraordinary properties are predestined for biomedical purposes because they are bioinert, transparent and they have excellent oxygen permeability. Great biocompatibility is partly because of its low chemical reactivity, low surface energy and hydrofobicity of polydimethylsiloxane. The purpose of this work was to determine branched structures and charachteristics of noanocomposite organofunctionals siloxanes. For synthesis were used vinyl-functionalized siloxanes and also polysiloxanes with adding of nanofillers. Cross linking of materials based on polydemitylsiloxanes and this compound was performed on 80˚C in vacuum. The chemical structure of the obtained materials was confirmed on the basis of the FTIR analysis, which confirmed the assumed mechanism of crosslinking of used silicone precursors. The influence of nanofillers on the mechanical and thermal properties of the obtained silicon is studied in detail, wherein was present a clear trend of improvement of mechanical properties of the silicone with the addition of nanofillers. Influence of nanofillers on the thermal properties of the silicone is confirmed based on DSC results. From this group of linear organic functional siloxanes, difunctional α and ω - siloxanes are more in focus of science and economy in recent times, as they are reactive agens for synthesis of organic polymers. Three cooperative influences are their inner flexibility, characteristic of lateral packing of individual macromolecules and presence of intermolecular attraction represent sensitive system of factors which have to be observed in order to acquire defined properties.