Compositions comprising fluorinated and non-fluorinated polyorganosiloxanes with high tear strength and consistency

Abstract: A high-consistency organosiloxane composition comprising fluorinated and non-fluorinated polyorganosiloxanes is disclosed, which upon the addition of suitable cure components is cured to form elastomers having improved tear strength and good resistance to hydrocarbon oil. The claimed composition comprises a reinforcing silica filler that has been treated with a tetraalkyldisilazane.

Description: The present invention is a high-consistency organosiloxane composition comprising fluorinated and non-fluorinated polyorganosiloxanes, which upon addition of suitable cure components is cured to form elastomers having improved tear strength and good resistance to hydrocarbon oil. The claimed composition comprises a reinforcing silica filler that has been treated with a tetraalkyldisilazane. Curable compositions containing mixtures of fluorinated and non-fluorinated high consistency polydiorganosiloxanes are known. One common repeating unit present in fluorinated polydiorganosiloxanes is methyl-3,3,3-trifluoropropylsiloxy. When compared with cured elastomers from polydimethylsiloxanes, elastomers prepared from fluorinated polydiorganosiloxanes exhibit inferior physical properties such as tensile and tear strengths or elasticity. They also have a higher solubility in polar organic liquids such as alcohols, ketones and esters. This reduction in properties is compensated by a lower solubility and higher resistance to degradation in aliphatic hydrocarbons that are present in aviation and automotive oils or fuels. High-consistency fluorinated and non-fluorinated polydiorganosiloxanes, when cured, typically provide an elastomer with physical properties that represent a compromise, with intermediate values for tensile and tear strengths or solvent resistance. One approach to increasing these properties is to increase the compatibility of the polymers. For example, U.S. Patent 4,960,811 describes a composition where 100 parts of a modified fluorinated polydiorganosiloxane, containing both vinyl and silanol groups, is blended with from one to 10 parts of a polydimethylsiloxane gum containing from one to 10 weight percent of vinyl radicals. Another approach is disclosed in U.S. Patent 5,302,632. The improved compatability therein is achieved by blending the polymers together with a reinforcing silica filler that is reacted with both fluorinated and non-fluorinated liquid polydiorganosiloxanes as filler treating agents. These high consistency polydiorganosiloxanes contain at least two alkenyl radicals per molecule and are cured by a hydrosilation reaction. We have found that the tear strength of compositions comprising a high-consistency fluorinated and non-fluorinated polydiorganosiloxane are unexpectedly improved by treating the reinforcing silica filler with tetraalkyldisilazane. The improved tear strength is surprisingly achieved while maintaining a good resistance to hydrocarbon oil. The present invention is a high-consistency organosiloxane composition, which upon the addition of suitable cure components, is cured to form fluorinated silicone elastomers having improved tear strength and good resistance to hydrocarbon oil weep. The high-consistency organosiloxane composition is prepared by blending components comprising: (A) 60 to 90 weight percent, based upon the combined weight of components (A) and (B), of a component containing at least one high-consistency fluorine-containing polydiorganosiloxane comprising at least two alkenyl radicals per molecule and repeating units described by formula R 1 R f SiO, where R 1 is an alkyl radical comprising from one to four carbon atoms and R f is a perfluoroalkylethyl radical comprising from three to 12 carbon atoms; (B) 10 to 40 weight percent, based on the combined weight of components (A) and (B), of a component containing at least one high consistency fluorine-free polydialkylsiloxane containing at least two alkenyl radicals per molecule, where the repeating units of the fluorine-free polydialkylsiloxane are described by formula R 1 2 SiO and R 1 is as previously described; and (C) 10 to 50 weight percent, based on the combined weight of components (A) and (B) of a reinforcing silica filler having a surface area of at least 50 m 2 /g, wherein the filler is treated with one to 50 weight percent, based on the weight of the reinforcing silica filler, of a tetraalkyldisilazane described by formula R 1 2 HSiNHSiR 1 2 H, where R 1 is as previously described. In this specification, the term "high-consistency" refers to polydiorganosiloxanes having the consistency of a gum at 25°C. The viscosities of such polymers are typically a Williams Plasticity Number that is measured by ASTM Standard D926. This number is from 75 to 400 mm at 25°C. for the fluorine-containing polydiorganosiloxane and from 50 to 350 mm at 25°C for the fluorine-free polydialkylsiloxane. The present composition includes at least one high consistency fluorine-containing polydiorganosiloxane, component (A), and at least one fluorine-free polydialkylsiloxane, component (B). Component (A) comprises from 60 to 90 weight percent of the combined weight of components (A) and (B), and conversely component (B) comprises 10 to 40 weight percent of the combined weights. Both components (A) and (B) contain compounds having at least two alkenyl radicals per molecule. Depending upon the physical properties desired in the cured elastomer of the present composition, up to three percent of the non-terminal repeating units of these polymers contains silicon-bonded alkenyl radicals. A portion of the repeating units of the compounds in component (A) correspond to the formula R 1 R f SiO, where R 1 is an alkyl radical comprising from one to four carbon atoms and R f is a perfluoroalkylethyl radical where the silicon atom is separated from the perfluoroalkyl radical by two non-fluorinated carbon atoms. The perfluoroalkyl portion of R f contains from one to 10 carbon atoms and includes perfluoromethyl, perfluoroethyl, perfluorobutyl and perfluorooctyl. R 1 is methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl and tert-butyl. Preferably R f is 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl and R 1 is methyl. A preferred component (A) contains at least one polydiorganosiloxane as described by the general formula where R 1 and R f are as previously described, R 2 is an alkenyl radical comprising two to 10 carbon atoms, each X is independently selected from hydroxy or R 2 , the sum of a and b is such that the polymer has a Williams Plasticity Number of from 75 to 400 mm at 25°C. and the value of b/(a+b) is from 0 to 0.03, with the proviso that when X is a hydroxy group, b is at least 2. Alternatively, the terminal group can be XR 1 2 SiO, where R 1 and X are as previously described. The alkenyl radicals represented by R 2 comprise two to 10 carbon atoms. R 2 is vinyl, allyl, butenyl, hexenyl and decenyl. When R 2 is other than vinyl or allyl, the ethylenically unsaturated carbon atoms are preferably located at the terminal position of the molecule. In a preferred composition, component (A) is a mixture comprising 20 to 60 weight percent of hydroxy-terminated fluorine-containing polydiorganosiloxanes where b is 0 and 40 to 80 weight percent of hydroxy-terminated fluorine-containing polydiorganosiloxanes where b/(a+b) is an average value within a range of 0.001 to 0.02. Most preferred is where component (A) is a mixture comprising 50 weight percent of hydroxy-terminated fluorine-containing polydiorganosiloxanes where b is 0 and 50 weight percent of hydroxy-terminated fluorine-containing polydiorganosiloxanes where b/(a+b) is an average value within a range of 0.001 to 0.02. Preferred is when component (A) has a Williams Plasticity Number within a range of 220 to 280 mm at 25°C. The compounds of component (B) comprise repeating units of the formula R 1 2 SiO, where each R 1 is an independently selected alkyl radical comprising one to four carbon atoms. Preferred is when R 1 is methyl. A preferred component (B) contains at least one fluorine-free dimethylsiloxane described by formula where Me is methyl, R 2 is an alkenyl radical comprising two to 10 carbon atoms as previously described, each Y is independently selected from hydroxy or R 2 , the sum of c and d is such that the polymer has a Williams Plasticity Number within a range of 50 to 350 mm at 25°C. and the value of d/(c+d) is from 0 to 0.03, with the proviso that d is at least 2 when Y is a hydroxy group. A more preferred component (B) is a mixture comprising 50 weight percent of fluorine-free dimethylsiloxanes where Y is vinyl and d=0 and 50 weight percent of fluorine-free dimethylsiloxanes where Y is vinyl and d/(c+d) is a value of 0.002. Preferred is when component (B) has a Williams Plasticity Number within a range of 120 to 200 mm at 25°C. The present compositions require the presence of a reinforcing silica filler which improves the physical strength of cured silicone elastomers prepared from our curable composition. The reinforcing silica filler is of the fumed or precipitated type and has a BET surface area of at least 50 m 2 /g. Preferably, the reinforcing silica filler has a surface area within a range of 50 to 400 m 2 /g. Most preferred is when said filler has a surface area greater than 100 m 2 /g. Especially preferred is when said filler has a surface area within a range of 200 to 400 m 2 /g. The amount of reinforcing silica filler added to our composition is from 10 to 50 weight percent, based on the combined weight of components (A) and (B). Preferred is when the filler is 15 to 25 weight percent of the weights of (A) and (B). Reinforcing silica fillers are typically treated with a low molecular weight organosilicon compound to prevent a phenomenon referred to as "creping" or "crepe hardening". These treating agents reduce the interaction between the polydiorganosiloxane and the silica which causes the curable composition to undergo an increase in viscosity during blending or storage of the composition. This viscosity increase can increase to the extent that the composition cannot be processed using conventional techniques and equipment. The advantages of our claimed composition are obtained by utilizing a specific class of compounds referred to as tetraalkyldisilazanes as a treating agent for our reinforcing silica filler. The tetraalkyldisilazanes are described by formula R 1 2 HSiNHSiR 1 2 H, where each R 1 is an independently selected alkyl radical comprising from one to four carbon atoms. Preferred is when the tetraalkyldisilazane is tetramethyldisilazane. The concentration of tetraalkyldisilazane useful in the present composition is within a range of 1 to 50 weight percent of the weight of the reinforcing silica filler. Preferred is when the tetraalkyldisilazane concentration is within a range of 5 to 15 weight percent of the weight of the filler. In addition to tetraalkyldisilazane, other silica treating agents may be used in the present compositions. In a preferred composition, a hydroxy-terminated methylvinylsiloxane described by formula where Me is methyl, Vi is vinyl, m is a value from 1 to 8, n is a value from 0 to 7 and m+n is a value from 5 to 8, is also included in the composition. This hydroxy-terminated methylvinylsiloxane treating agent comprises 0.5 to 10 weight percent of the weight of the reinforcing silica filler. More preferred is a composition where the hydroxy-terminated methylvinylsiloxane treating agent comprises 1 to 5 weight percent of the weight of the reinforcing silica filler. The claimed compositions are cured by adding standard curing agents suitable for cure to form silicone elastomers. One suitable curing agent for our curable compositions is organic peroxides. One class of organic peroxides are vinyl-specific and require the presence of vinyl or other alkenyl radicals substituted on the polydiorganosiloxane polymers. The second class of these peroxides are non-vinyl specific and react with any type of hydrocarbon radical to generate a free radical which can effect crosslinking. The peroxide catalysts include di-tertiary-butyl peroxide, tertiary-butyl-triethylmethyl peroxide, tertiary-butyl-tertiary-triphenyl peroxide, t-butyl perbenzoate and di-tertiary alkyl peroxides such as dicumyl peroxide or 2,5-bis(tert-butyl peroxy)-2,3-dimethylhexane. Other suitable peroxide catalysts, which effect curing through saturated as well as unsaturated hydrocarbon groups on the siloxane chains, are aryl peroxides such as benzoyl peroxides, mixed alkyl-aryl peroxides such as tertiary-butyl perbenzoate, chloroalkyl peroxides such as 1,4-dichlorobenzoyl peroxide, 2,4-dichlorobenzoyl peroxide, monochlorobenzoyl peroxide and benzoyl peroxide. A preferred peroxide catalyst herein is 2,5-bis(tert-butyl peroxy)-2,3-dimethylhexane. Generally, 0.1 to 10 weight percent of the peroxide, based on total weight of the composition, is effective to cure the present compositions. The claimed compositions are also cured by means of a platinum-group metal-catalyzed hydrosilation reaction using an organohydrogensiloxane as crosslinker. To effect cure of the present composition, the organohydrogensiloxane must contain more than two silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms per molecule. Preferably, this organohydrogensiloxane contains from four to 20 silicon atoms per molecule and has a viscosity of up to 10 Pa·s at 25°C., inclusive. The silicon-bonded organic groups present in the organohydrogensiloxane are substituted or unsubstituted alkyl radicals comprising one to four carbon atoms that are free of ethylenic or acetylenic unsaturation. The units of the organohydrogenpolysiloxane include HSiO 3/2 , R 3 HSiO and R 3 2 HSiO 1/2 , in addition to one or more of monoorganosiloxy, diorganosiloxy, triorganosiloxy and SiO 4/2 units. The substituent R 3 is the same as R 1 or R f , as previously described. To ensure adequate curing of our composition, it is preferable that the hydrocarbon radical of the organohydrogensiloxane is selected from methyl or 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl. Alternatively, the organohydrogensiloxane is a cyclic compound comprising diorganosiloxy and organohydrogensiloxy units or a branched compound described by formula Si(OSiR 3 2 H) 4 , where R 3 is as previously described. The molar ratio of silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms to the total concentration of vinyl or other alkenyl radicals in all of the high consistency polydiorganosiloxanes (components (A) and (B)) is important to the desired properties of the cured silicone elastomers. The optimum ratio for our compositions is determined at least in part by the concentration of ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon substituents in components (A) and (B) and the type of organohydrogensiloxane crosslinker. Generally, a useful molar ratio of silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms to alkenyl radicals provided by components (A) and (B) is within a range of 1:1 to 5:1. Platinum-group metal-containing catalysts useful to catalyze the present compositions are any of those known to catalyze the reaction of silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms with silicon-bonded alkenyl groups. By "platinum group metal", it is meant ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium and platinum. Examples of useful platinum-group metal-containing catalysts are found in U.S. Patents 3,989,668; 5,036,117; 3,159,601; 3,220,972; 3,296,291; 3,516,946; 3,814,730 and 3,928,629, all of which show useful catalysts and methods for their preparation. The preferred platinum-group metal is platinum. Therefore, a preferred hydrosilation catalyst for curing the present composition is selected from a group consisting of platinum metal, platinum compounds and platinum complexes. Platinum compounds, such as chloroplatinic acid, chloro-platinic acid hexahydrate and platinum dichloride, and particularly complexes of such compounds with low-molecular weight vinyl-containing organosiloxanes, are preferred catalysts because of their high activity and compatibility with the organosiloxanes used herein. These complexes are generally described in U.S. Patent 3,419,593. Complexes with low-molecular weight organosiloxanes, where the silicon bonded hydrocarbon radicals are vinyl and either methyl or 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl, are particularly preferred because of their ability to catalyze a rapid cure of the claimed compositions at temperatures of 70°C. or greater. The platinum-group metal-containing catalyst used in the present invention may also be microencapsulated in a thermoplastic organic or organosilicon resin as a matrix or shell type of structure. Microencapsulated platinum-group metal hydrosilation catalysts, together with methods for their preparation, are more fully described in U.S. Patent 4,784,879, which is very useful in preparing the present composition. Another preferred platinum-group metal-containing catalyst for the present compositions comprises the reaction product of chloroplatinic acid with dimethylvinylsiloxy terminated polymethyl(3,3,3-trifluoropropyl)siloxane. This catalyst is added to the present compositions in an amount equivalent to as little as 0.001 part by weight of elemental platinum-group metal, per one million parts (ppm) of the composition. Preferably, the concentration of platinum-group metal is that providing the equivalent of at least 1 ppm of elemental platinum-group metal. A catalyst concentration providing the equivalent of 3 to 50 ppm of elemental platinum-group metal in our composition is preferred. When the present composition is mixed with an organohydrogensiloxane crosslinker and a platinum group metal-containing catalyst, the composition may cure at room temperature. Therefore, to increase the storage stability or obtain a longer working time, it is useful to add a catalyst inhibitor to our curable composition. Such platinum-group metal-containing catalyst inhibitors are known in the art and include acetylenic compounds as disclosed in U.S. Patent 3,445,420. Acetylenic alcohols, such as 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol and 1-ethynyl-1-cyclohexanol, are preferred inhibitors that will suppress the activity of a platinum-containing catalyst at ambient temperatures while allowing cure to proceed rapidly at temperatures of 70°C. or above. Other catalyst inhibitors used in the claimed compositions include those described in U.S. Patents 5,036,117; 4,584,361 and 3,989,667. The amount of inhibitor required is that needed to produce the desired shelf-life and/or pot-life; and yet, to not extend the required cure time to an impractical level. This amount will vary widely and depends upon the particular inhibitor used, the nature and concentration of the catalyst and the organohydrogensiloxane crosslinker employed. Inhibitor concentrations as small as one mole of inhibitor per mole of platinum group metal will in some instances cause a satisfactory inhibition of the catalyst. In other cases, as much as 500 moles of inhibitor for every mole of catalyst is needed to achieve the desired combination of pot life and cure time. To further provide for improved shelf stability of our compositions when compounded with a catalyst, the curable composition is packaged in two parts with the platinum-group metal-containing catalyst in one part and the organohydrogensiloxane crosslinker in the other part. In addition to the above components, compositions prepared by the present method can have added to them optional ingredients such as heat stabilizers, pigments, flame-retardants, electrically conductive materials and thermally conductive materials. In a preferred method, the reinforcing silica filler is first treated with the tetraalkyldisilazane and optionally other silica treating agents, in the presence of components (A) and (B) by mixing under relatively high shear using a sigma-blade mixer. This mixing operation is continued until the filler is completely treated and uniformly dispersed throughout our composition to form a homogeneous material. The operation requires anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours, depending upon such factors as the amount of material processed, the material viscosity and the mixer shear rate. Alternatively, the reinforcing silica filler is treated with tetraalkyldisilazane, and optionally other silica treating agents, before mixing with the high-consistency organosiloxane components (A) and (B). It is preferred that the latter mixing operation be conducted at a temperature within a range of 100 to 250°C. under reduced pressure to remove volatiles from the processed composition. Our curable compositions are prepared by blending the resultant homogeneous mixture of polymers and treated filler with the above curing agents. If a microencapsulated catalyst is used, care should be taken during incorporation of this ingredient to avoid rupturing the microcapsules and the potential release of catalyst. The following examples are provided to further illustrate this invention. The reported Williams Plasticity Numbers were measured using ASTM Standard D926, with the testing conducted at a temperature of 25°C. A base composition was prepared as described in Table 1. Components 1 through 5 were added to a sigma-blade mixer and mixed for 5 minutes with a nitrogen purge. Water (component 9) was then added to this mixer and mixing continued for an additional 5 minutes. Components 7 and 8 were next added to the mixer and mixing continued for another 5 minutes. The reinforcing silica filler was subsequently added to the mixer slowly to keep the forming base massed. After completion of filler addition, hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) was used to form a reference composition. Thereafter, tetramethyldisilazane (TMDS), or both HMDS and TMDS as described in Table 2, were added to the mixer and mixing continued for 30 minutes. The mixture was then heated to a temperature of 175 to 185°C. with a nitrogen purge and mixing continued for 3 hours. The resulting base was cooled with continuing mixing. After cooling the base, a curable composition was made by mixing into each 100 weight parts of the base, 1 weight part of 2,5-bis(tert-butyl peroxy)-2,3-dimethylhexane as catalyst and 1 weight part of a 50 weight percent composition of cerium hydrate in a dimethylhydroxysiloxy-terminated polydimethylsiloxane gum having a Williams Plasticity Number of 152 to 178 mm. Samples of the catalyzed composition were press cured at 171°C. for 10 minutes and then post cured at 200°C. for four hours in a hot air oven. The potential for weep of the cured samples was tested by immersing the samples in a commercially available hydrocarbon automotive engine oil (5W30 weight) at 150°C. for 96 hours. The percent weight gain of the sample was determined as an indication of the potential for hydrocarbon oil weep and is reported in Table 2. Other physical properties of the samples were tested by standard methods. The test methods and the results of testing are also reported in Table 2. Formulation of Tested Compositions No. Parts(wt.) Component Description 1 28.46 Methyltrifluoropropylhydroxysiloxy-terminated methyltrifluoropropyl(methylvinyl)polysiloxane comprising 0.6 mole percent MeViSiO units and having a Williams Plasticity Number of 229 to 279 mm 2 28.46 Methyltrifluoropropylhydroxysiloxy-terminated methyltrifluoropropylpolysiloxane having a Williams Plasticity Number of 230 to 356 mm 3 2.32 Dimethylvinylsiloxy-terminated polydimethyl(methylvinyl)siloxane having 1.88 mole percent MeViSiO units and a Williams Plasticity Number of 127 to 178 mm 4 7.53 Dimethylvinylsiloxy-terminated polydimethylsiloxane having a Williams Plasticity Number of 140 to 165 mm 5 7.53 Dimethylvinylsiloxy-terminated polydimethyl(methylvinyl)siloxane having 0.14 mole percent MeViSiO units and a Williams Plasticity Number of 140 to 165 mm 6 18.55 Fumed reinforcing silica having a BET surface area of 225 m 2 /g 7 0.29 Dimethylhydroxy-terminated polydimethyl(methylvinyl)siloxane described by formula H(OSiMeVi) m (OSiMe 2 ) n OH where m and n are such that the material comprises 9.8 weight percent vinyl and 7 weight percent hydroxy 8 4.00 Methyl(3,3,3-trifluoropropyl)hydroxysiloxy terminated methyl(3,3,3-tri-fluoropropyl)polysiloxane having a viscosity of 100 mPa·s at 25°C. 9 0.75 Water 10 *.** Hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS), tetramethyldisilazane (TMDS) or a mixture of HMDS and TMDS as described in Table 2 Physical Properties Test Methods and Results Physical Property Test Method Test Results HMDS TMDS HMDS+TMDS Durometer (Shore A) ASTM D2240 39 44 45 Tensile, MPa ASTM 412 7.8 7.4 7.4 Tear (Die B), kN/m ASTM 625 20.7 28.9 27.1 Elongation, % ASTM 412 549 414 463 Modulus (100%), MPa ASTM 412 0.1 1.3 1.3 Compression Set, % ASTM 395 7 9.3 8.9 Weight Gain, % - 6.7 6.2

Claims: An organosiloxane composition comprising: (A) 60 to 90 weight percent, based upon the combined weight of components (A) and (B), of a component consisting of at least one high-consistency fluorine-containing polydiorganosiloxane having a Williams Plasticity Number from 75 to 400 mm at 25°C, measured by ASTM Standard D926, which polydiorganosiloxane comprises at least two alkenyl radicals per molecule and repeating units described by formula R 1 R f SiO, where R 1 is an alkyl radical having from one to four carbon atoms and R f is a perfluoroalkylethyl radical having from three to 12 carbon atoms; (B) 10 to 40 weight percent, based on the combined weight of components (A) and (B), of a component consisting of at least one high consistency fluorine-free polydialkylsiloxane having a Williams Pasticity Number from 50 to 350 mm at 25°C, measured by ASTM Standard D926, which polydialkysiloxane comprises at least two alkenyl radicals per molecule, where the repeating units of the fluorine-free polydialkylsiloxane are described by formula R 1 2 SiO and R 1 is as previously described; and (C) 10 to 50 weight percent, based on the combined weight of components (A) and (B), of a reinforcing silica filler having a surface area of at least 50 m 2 /g; where the filler is treated with one to 50 weight percent, based on the weight of the reinforcing silica filler, of a silazane characterized in that the silazane is a tetraalkyldisilazane described by formula R 1 2 HSiNHSiR 1 2 H, where R 1 is as previously described. An organosiloxane composition according to claim 1 where component (A) contains at least one polydiorganosiloxane as described by formula where R 1 is methyl and R f is 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl, R 2 is an alkenyl radical comprising two to 10 carbon atoms, each X is independently selected from hydroxy or R 2 , the sum of a and b is selected such that component (A) has a Williams Plasticity Number of 75 to 400 mm at 25°C. and the value of b/(a+b) is from 0 to 0.03, with the proviso that when X is a hydroxy group, b is at least 2. A composition according to claim 2 where component (A) is a mixture comprising 20 to 60 weight percent of hydroxyterminated fluorine-containing polydiorganosiloxanes with b=0 and 40 to 80 weight percent of hydroxyterminated fluorine-containing polydiorganosiloxanes where b/(a+b) is an average value within a range of 0.001 to 0.02. A composition according to claim 3 where component (A) is a mixture comprising 50 weight percent of a hydroxyterminated fluorine-containing polydiorganosiloxane where b is 0 and 50 weight percent of hydroxy-terminated fluorine-containing polydiorganosiloxane where b/(a+b) is a value within a range of 0.001 to 0.02. A composition according to any of claims 1-4 where component (B) contains at least one polydiorganosiloxane described by formula where Me is methyl, R 2 is an alkenyl radical comprising two to 10 carbon atoms as previously described, each Y is independently selected from hydroxy or R 2 , the sum of c and d is selected such that component (B) has a Williams Plasticity Number within a range of 50 to 350 mm at 25°C. and the value of d/(c+d) is from 0 to 0.03, with the proviso that d is at least 2 when Y represents a hydroxy group. A composition according to claim 5 where component (B) is a mixture comprising fluorine-free dimethylsiloxanes where Y is vinyl and d is zero and fluorine-free dimethylsiloxanes where Y is vinyl and d/(c+d) is a value of 0.002. A composition according to any of claims 1-6 where the reinforcing silica filler is treated with 5 to 15 weight percent, based on the weight of said filler, of tetraalkyldisilazane. A composition according to any of claims 1-7 further comprising 0.5 to 10 weight percent, based on the weight of the reinforcing silica filler, of a hydroxy-terminated methylvinylsiloxane treating agent described by formula where Me is methyl, Vi is vinyl, m is a value from 1 to 8, n is a value from 0 to 7 and m+n is a value of 5 to 8. A composition according to any of claims 1 to 8 further comprising an organic peroxide in an amount sufficient to effect curing of the composition. A composition according to any of claims 1-8 further comprising a platinum-group metal hydrosilation catalyst and an organohydrogensiloxane crosslinker in amounts sufficient to effect curing of the composition. A composition according to claim 10 where the composition is packaged in two parts with the platinum group metal-containing catalyst in one part and the organohydrogensiloxane in a second part. An elastomer obtainable from the composition of any of claims 9 or 11.

Inventors: IRISH PAUL THOMAS, MAXSON MYRON TIMOTHY, IRISH, PAUL THOMAS, MAXSON, MYRON TIMOTHY
Applicants: DOW CORNING, DOW CORNING CORPORATION
Application year: 1997
Main classification: C08L83
IPC codes: C08L83, C08K3, C08K9