Additive system to improve adhesion and hydrolytic stability of silicone elastomers

Abstract: An adhesion promoting method and a corresponding composition for improving the performance of silicone elastomers at high humidity are disclosed. The improved adhesion promoter comprises: (a) an epoxy functional silane; and (b) an acid. The acid may be phosphoric acid or any organic acid. Acetic and citric acids are preferred. The inclusion of the epoxy functional silane and acid in a standard silicone elastomer system provides greatly enhanced stability and adhesion under conditions of high humidity.

Description: The invention relates to an adhesion promoter for silicone elastomers. Adhering silicone elastomers to various substrates is a continuing problem. Although the use of adhesion promoters in silicone elastomers is well known (see, for example, U.S. patents 4,483,973; 4,997,882; 5,213,899 and 4,528,353), the performance of known compositions under conditions of high humidity is generally poor. In particular, most compositions, including those that have good initial adhesion, fail when exposed to cycles of heating and cooling at 95% relative humidity. JP-A-55133452 discloses a composition having improved adhesiveness and reduced corrosiveness for metal, curable with moisture into a rubber elastomer, comprising a silanol-terminated polydiorganosiloxane, an acyloxy group-containing silicon compound, and an additive consisting of (a) phosphoric acid and/or an acid phosphoric ester, (b) an epoxy-silane (partial hydrolyzate) or the reaction product of (a) with (b). There is, therefore, a need for an additive system to improve the adhesion and hydrolytic stability of silicone elastomers. This need is satisfied, the limitations of the prior art overcome, and other benefits realized in accordance with the principles of the present invention. In one aspect, the invention, relates to an improved adhesion promoting composition for increasing the durability of adhesion of silicone elastomers at high humidity comprising: (a) an epoxy functional silane; and (b) an organic acid. In another aspect the invention relates to an addition-cure silicone elastomer composition comprising: (a) an addition curable polysiloxane resin; (b)a curing agent for the addition curable resin; and (c) an adhesion promoter. The adhesion promoter comprises (i) an epoxy functional silane and (ii) an organic acid. The epoxy functional silane may be, for example, b-3,4-epoxycyclohexylethyl trimethoxysilane or g-glycidoxypropyl trimethoxysilane. Preferred organic acids are C 1 to C 20 carboxylic acids, particularly acetic acid and citric acid. C 1 to C 20 sulfonic acids may also be used. In another aspect, the invention relates to a method for improving the performance of an epoxy functional silane adhesion promoter under high humidity. The method comprises adding or an organic acid to an epoxy functional silane adhesion promoter. The combination of acid and epoxy functional silane provides greatly increased adhesion of the resulting silicone elastomer following exposure to high humidity. In another aspect, the invention relates to an article comprising a substrate having the above described cured silicone elastomer adherent thereon. The elastomer thereby includes residues derived from an epoxy functional silane and the organic acid. In one embodiment, the article is a polyamide substrate coated with the elastomer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In its most basic aspect, the invention relates to an adhesion promoting method and a corresponding composition for improving the performance of silicone elastomers at high humidity. The improved adhesion promoter comprises: (a) an epoxy functional silane; and (b) an organic acid. The epoxy functional silane can be any of the well known members of this class. Epoxy functional silanes suitable for use as adhesion promoters in silicone elastomer compositions are described in US patent 4,483,973. Non-limiting examples include: epoxycyclohexylethyl trimethoxysilane; g-glycidoxypropyl trimethoxysilane; g-glycidoxypropyl triethoxysilane; g-glycidoxypropyl methyldimethoxysilane; and g-glycidoxypropyl methyldiethoxysilane. Suitable acids for the compositions of the present invention include, for example: acetic, benzenesulfonic, benzoic, camphorsulfonic, citric, ethanesulfonic, fumaric, gluconic, glutamic, lactic, maleic, malic, mandelic, methanesulfonic, oxalic, pyruvic, succinic, tartaric, and p-toluenesulfonic. The acid/epoxysilane adhesion promoter may be used to create an addition cure silicone elastomer composition by adding it to an addition curable polysiloxane resin and the curing agent for the addition curable resin. An example of such a resin system is:(a) 200 parts by weight of a vinyl-containing polydiorganosiloxane; (b) from 0.2 to 10 parts of a hydrogencontaining polysiloxane; (c)a catalytic amount of a hydrosilylation catalyst; and (d)from 0.2 to 10 parts of the acid/epoxysilane adhesion promoter described above. In many preferred embodiments the adhesion promoter is 1 part by weight acid to 1 to 10 parts by weight of epoxy functional silane, and in a particularly preferred embodiment, the acid is present at about 1 part by weight per 2 to 4 parts by weight of epoxy functional silane. A preferred vinyl-containing polydiorganosiloxane is a vinyl-containing polydimethylsiloxane. Silicone polymers of appropriate molecular weight must be crosslinked to provide elastomeric properties. Many curing, i.e., cross-linking, systems have been developed for silicone elastomers, and several are widely used commercially. Silicone elastomers are supplied as uncured rubbers that are based on polymers of intermediate molecular weights and viscosities, e.g., 100-1,000,000 m 2 /s (= cSt) at 25° C. Curing is based on chemical reactions that increase polymer molecular weights and provide cross-linking. To demonstrate the efficacy of the adhesion promoting system of the invention, a standard coating formulation of an addition cure silicone was prepared and the abrasion resistance determined before and after the conditioning cycle. The starting formulation of the two components of the elastomeric coating were: Base Component 67.9 parts by weight of vinyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymer 22.6 parts vinyl terminated PDMS and methyl vinyl silicone resin 9.0 parts polymethylhydrogen siloxane 0.5 parts inhibitor solution Catalyst Component 60.0 parts vinyl terminated PDMS polymer 39.7 parts vinyl terminated PDMS and methyl vinyl silicone resin 0.3 parts platinum catalyst The base and catalyst components were thoroughly mixed in a one-to-one ratio, applied to a nylon substrate using standard knife coating techniques, and cured by heating for two minutes in a forced-air oven at 160° C. Abrasion resistance was determined using a scrub tester supplied by SNEJPS (France) which meets the requirements of ISO 5981. The abrasion resistance was determined before and after an aging or conditioning cycle, which consisted of 24 hours at -40° C, 24 hours at 85° C with 95% relative humidity and then 8 cycles of -40° C to 105° C and back. Results are expressed in number of abrasion cycles completed before degradation of the coating. Table 1 shows the results of the testing of the standard formulation and the standard formulation with three different adhesion promoters not embodying the invention. ADDITIVE # OF SCRUBS BEFORE STRESS # OF SCRUB AFTER STRESS none (control) >3000 30 3-methacryloxypropyl >3000 150 trimethoxysilane 3,4-epoxycyclohexylethyl >3000 300 trimethoxysilane glycidoxypropyl >3000 180 trimethoxysilane From Table 1, it can be seen that serious degradation of the adhesion of the coating occurred following the conditioning cycle and that the conventional adhesion promoters did little to improve the situation. When, according to the invention, acid was added to the epoxy functional silane adhesion promoter, a dramatic improvement was observed. Upon the addition of one part acetic acid per 7.5 parts of 3,4-epoxycyclohexylethyl trimethoxysilane, the number of scrubs after stress rose to greater than 3,000. Although acetic acid functions splendidly in the invention, the odor associated with acetic acid can be unacceptable in certain applications. Therefore, acetic acid was replaced with citric acid. The results for both are shown below in Table 2. ADDITIVE # OF SCRUBS BEFORE STRESS # OF SCRUBS AFTER STRESS 3,4-epoxycyclohexylethyl trimethoxysilane >3000 300 3,4-epoxycyclohexylethyl trimethoxysilane plus acetic add >3000 >3000 3,4-epoxycyclohexylethyl trimethoxysilane plus citric acid >3000 >3000 The effect of varying amounts of acid and adhesion promoter were explored. The results are shown below in Tables 3 through 5. For the particular application for which the experiments were carried out, it was desirable to include a hydride fluid to give a harder and drier coating, and the proportions of the hydride fluid are shown in the tables as well. The base composition was as shown above, and the amounts shown in the tables are parts by weight per 200 parts by weight of the combined base plus catalyst composition. The order of addition was base component, catalyst component, epoxy functional silane, hydride fluid for increased cross link density (optional) and acid. The elastomer was spread and then cured at 160° for two minutes. The results are shown in Tables 3 to 5. Although this invention is susceptible to embodiment in many different forms, preferred embodiments of the invention are described below. It should be understood, however, that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of this invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments described. The particular epoxy silanes shown below in the examples were chosen simply on the basis of their ready commercial availability and cost. Similarly, any organic acid would function analogously to the two illustrated below; they were also chosen on the basis of their ready availability and cost. The following definitions and abbreviations are employed in Tables and Examples: SLE5700A/B is the commercial designation of the polysiloxane resin and gum system described above as the control. It is commercially available from General Electric Silicones. It is a low viscosity polymer useful for knife-over-roll coating techniques. Following standard convention, the "A" component includes the base resin and crosslinker; the "B" component includes the base resin and catalyst. SL6020 is a hydride fluid which improves the cross-link density, giving a harder and drier polymer coating, when such is desired. It is commercially available from GE Silicones. A-186 is b-3,4-epoxycyclohexylethyl trimethoxysilane. A-187 is g-glycidoxypropyl trimethoxysilane. EXPT # SL 6020 (parts) ADHESION PROMOTER A-187 (parts) CITRIC ACID (parts) # OF SCRUBS (BEFORE STRESS) # OF SCRUBS (AFTER STRESS) 1 6 3 1.0 >1000 2200 2 6 6 1.0 >1000 2000-2400 3 10 6 1.0 >1000 2100 4 10 3 1.0 >1000 400 5 6 3 2.2 >1000 1600 6 6 6 2.2 >1000 1300 7 10 6 2.2 >1000 >3000 8 10 3 2.2 >1000 1200 9 8 4.5 1.6 >1000 400-800 EXPT # SL 6020 (parts) ADHESION PROMOTER A-186 (parts) CITRIC ACID (parts) # OF SCRUBS (BEFORE STRESS) # OF SCRUBS (AFTER STRESS) 10 1.0 0.6 0.10 NA >1000 11 0.6 0.3 0.22 NA 900 12 0.6 0.6 0.22 NA >1000 13 1.0 0.3 0.10 NA >1000 14 1.0 0.6 0.22 NA >1000 15 0.6 0.6 0.10 NA >1000 16 1.0 0.3 0.22 NA >1000 17 0.6 0.3 0.10 NA 700 EXPT # SL 6020 (parts) ADHESION PROMOTER A-187 (parts) CITRIC ACID (parts) # OF SCRUBS (BEFORE STRESS) # OF SCRUBS (AFTER STRESS) 18 1.0 0.6 0.10 NA 900 19 0.6 0.3 0.22 NA 600 20 0.6 0.6 0.22 NA >1000 21 1.0 0.3 0.10 NA 800 22 0.8 0.45 0.16 NA 750-1000 For the preparation of an addition cure silicone elastomer composition, one prepares two components: the A component contains the addition curable polysiloxane (e.g. a vinyl terminated PDMS polymer), the catalyst, and the epoxy functional silane; the B component contains, in addition to the addition curable polysiloxane, a curing agent (e.g. a hydrogen siloxane) and the acid. Additional components, such as the hydride fluid hardener, fillers, etc. may be added to whichever component provides compatibility, in this case the B component. A coated article is prepared by mixing the components, spreading the elastomer composition on the substrate and curing the coated article, all of which are carried out by means well known in the art.

Claims: An adhesion promoting composition for improving the adhesion performance of silicone elastomers at high humidity comprising: (a) an epoxy functional silane; and (b) an organic acid. An addition-cure silicone elastomer composition comprising: (a) an addition curable polysiloxane resin; (b) a curing agent for said addition curable resin; and (c) an adhesion promoter comprising (i) an epoxy functional silane and (ii) an organic acid. An addition-cure silicone elastomer composition according to claim 2 comprising: (a) 200 parts by weight of a vinyl-containing polydiorganosiloxane; (b) from 1 to 40 parts of a hydrogen-containing polysiloxane; (b) a catalytic amount of a hydrosilylation catalyst; and (c) from 0.2 to 10 parts of an adhesion promoter comprising (i) an epoxy functional silane and (ii) an organic acid. The composition according to any preceding claim wherein said organic acid is a C 1 to C 20 carboxylic acid or a C 1 to C 20 sulfonic acid The composition according to any preceding claim wherein said acid is present at 1 part by weight per 1 to 10 parts by weight of epoxy functional silane. The composition according to any preceding claim wherein said epoxy functional silane is b-3,4-epoxycyclohexylethyl trimethoxysilane or g-glycidoxypropyl trimethoxysilane. A method for improving the performance of an epoxy functional silane adhesion promoter under high humidity comprising adding to said epoxy functional silane adhesion promoter an amount of an organic acid sufficient to increase adhesion of a silicone elastomer incorporating said epoxy functional silane adhesion promoter following exposure to high humidity. The method of claim 7 wherein 1 part by weight of acid is added per 1-10 parts by weight of said epoxy functional silane adhesion promoter. An article comprising a substrate and a cured silicone elastomer adherent thereon, said elastomer including residues derived from an epoxy functional silane and an organic acid. A polyamide substrate coated with a silicone elastomer according to claim 9.

Inventors: ADLER UWE, STEEDMAN ADRIAN MALCOLM, ADLER, UWE, STEEDMAN, ADRIAN MALCOLM
Applicants: GEN ELECTRIC, GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Application year: 1998
Main classification: C08L83
IPC codes: C08J5, C08K5, C08K3, C08L83, B32B25, C09D183, C08J7