Preparation of organopolysiloxane gum

Abstract: An organopolysiloxane gum is continuously prepared by (I) mixing at least one cyclopolysiloxane with an end capping agent, (II) feeding the mixture to a self-cleaning reactor along with an alkaline polymerization catalyst, and effecting polymerization at a temperature of 100 to 250°C and under subatmospheric pressure, (III) continuously adding a neutralizing agent to the reaction mixture of step (II), thereby terminating the polymerization reaction, and (IV) continuously removing the cyclopolysiloxane and volatile components from the reaction mixture.

Description: This invention relates to a process suitable for continuously preparing an organopolysiloxane gum which has a low content of hydroxyl in the terminal unit so that the gum is suitable in various silicone rubber compositions. Because of its improved characteristics including weather resistance, electrical properties, compression set, heat resistance, and low-temperature resistance, silicone rubber is widely used in a variety of fields including electronic equipment, automobiles, buildings, medical and food fields. Illustrative applications include rubber contacts used as rubber contact keys in remote controllers, type writers, computer keyboards, and musical instruments, building gaskets, rolls in copiers and printers (e.g., fixing rolls, developing rolls, transfer rolls, charging rolls, and paper feed rolls), vibration dampers in audio equipment, and compact disc packing in computers. As the demand for silicone rubber is increasing, the high productivity manufacture of silicone rubber at a low cost is desired. The continuous preparation of organopolysiloxane is effective to meet such needs. JP-A 53-99300 corresponding to USP 4,128,568 discloses a process for continuously preparing a highly viscous organopolysiloxane in the presence of a basic and/or acidic reaction catalyst. It is described that viscous organopolysiloxanes having a viscosity of 10 to several millions of centipoises can be prepared, but no reference is made to organopolysiloxanes having a higher viscosity, that is, in the gum region. The terminal unit structure of organopolysiloxane depends on the structure of a terminal stopper used in the polymerization process. However, the process for preparing organopolysiloxane generally has the drawback that a trace amount of water in the reactant can also function as the terminal stopper. The resulting organopolysiloxane has hydroxyl groups introduced into the terminal unit, departing from the desired terminal unit. When such a high molecular weight organopolysiloxane gum having terminal hydroxyl groups is mixed with a reinforcing agent such as silica to formulate a silicone rubber compound, the compound gives rise to a crepe hardening phenomenon with the lapse of time because of the interaction between hydroxyl groups at the end of organopolysiloxane gum and hydroxyl groups on silica surface. Prior to use, the silicone rubber compound having undergone crepe hardening must be restored to the initial state by applying strong shear forces in a twin-roll mill or another kneader. In the application where organopolysiloxane gum is used as a base component of a silicone rubber compound, it is desired to design the organopolysiloxane gum such that its terminal unit consists of a triorganosilyl group. Nevertheless, in the currently available gums, hydroxyl groups are introduced in the terminal unit owing to incidental factors as mentioned above. For the preparation of organopolysiloxane gum, it was needed to reduce the content of hydroxyl groups. One process for reducing the hydroxyl group content is disclosed in JP-A 60-202124 corresponding to USP 4,551,515. For removing a trace amount of water from the starting reactants such as a cyclopolysiloxane and a low molecular weight, linear organopolysiloxane as the terminal stopper, the reactants are previously dried using a desiccant such as molecular sieve. However, such pretreatment renders the overall process complicated, and there is a need for periodic replacement of the desiccant. Another technique of reducing hydroxyl groups in organopolysiloxane terminal units is by adding a triorganohalosilane and a hexaorganodisilazane for neutralizing the alkali catalyst as disclosed in JP-A 60-49033 corresponding to USP 4,563,513. This technique is successful in reducing hydroxyl groups, but increases the number of steps and raises the problem of metal equipment corrosion due to the use of halosilane. Therefore, for the preparation of organopolysiloxane gum (or organopolysiloxane having a high degree of polymerization), it is desired to have a more efficient technique capable of effectively reducing the content of hydroxyl groups in the terminal unit. A preferred embodiment of the invention may provide a novel and improved process for continuously preparing an organopolysiloxane gum having a minimized content of hydroxyl groups in the terminal unit and of consistent quality and low cost through simplified steps and in a highly productive manner. We have found that an organopolysiloxane gum can be continuously prepared by the steps of (I) mixing (A) at least one cyclopolysiloxane of the formula (1) to be defined below with (B) an end capping agent, (II) feeding the mixture of components (A) and (B) to a continuous polymerization reactor, continuously mixing (C) an alkaline polymerization catalyst with the mixture, and effecting polymerization at a temperature of 100 to 250°C and under a pressure of up to 67 kPa (500 mmHg), and (III) continuously adding a neutralizing agent to the reaction mixture of step (II), thereby terminating the polymerization reaction. Since the reaction product resulting from step (III) contains the cyclopolysiloxane and volatile components as polymerization residues, step (III) is preferably followed by the step (IV) of continuously removing the cyclopolysiloxane and volatile components from the reaction product. In this way, an organopolysiloxane gum of consistent quality and substantially free of hydroxyl groups in the terminal unit can be prepared by a simplified process without a need for pretreatment. The organopolysiloxane gum can be prepared at a high productivity and low cost without concern about equipment corrosion. Accordingly the invention provides a process for continuously preparing an organopolysiloxane gum, comprising the steps of: (I) mixing (A) at least one cyclopolysiloxane of the following general formula (1): wherein R 1 and R 2 are independently substituted or unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon groups, and n is an integer of at least 3, with (B) an end capping agent, (II) feeding the mixture of components (A) and (B) of step (I) to a continuous polymerization reactor, continuously feeding and mixing (C) an alkaline polymerization catalyst with the mixture, and effecting polymerization at a temperature of 100 to 250°C and under a pressure of up to 67 kPa (500 mmHg), and (III) continuously adding a neutralizing agent to the reaction mixture of step (II) in a sufficient amount to neutralize the catalyst, thereby terminating the polymerization reaction. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The objects, features and advantages of the invention will be better understood by reading the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a self-cleaning reactor. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the continuous preparation process of the invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The process for continuously preparing an organopolysiloxane gum according to the invention starts with step (I) of mixing (A) at least one cyclopolysiloxane with (B) an end capping agent. The cyclopolysiloxane (A) is of the following general formula (1): wherein R 1 and R 2 are independently substituted or unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon groups, and n is an integer of at least 3. In formula (1), R 1 and R 2 are preferably substituted or unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon groups of 1 to 12 carbon atoms and especially 1 to 8 carbon atoms, for example, alkyl groups such as methyl, ethyl and propyl, alkenyl groups such as vinyl and allyl, aryl groups such as phenyl and tolyl, aralkyl groups such as phenylethyl, alkaryl groups, and substituted ones of these groups in which some or all of the hydrogen atoms are replaced by halogen atoms, cyano and other groups, such as chloromethyl, trifluoropropyl, cyanoethyl, and α-cyanophenylethyl. Preferably R 1 and R 2 are methyl, phenyl, vinyl or trifluoropropyl groups. Letter n is an integer of at least 3, preferably from 3 to 8. Illustrative examples of the cyclopolysiloxane of formula (1) include cyclized dimethylsiloxanes such as hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane and octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, cyclized methylvinylsiloxanes such as tetramethyltetravinylcyclotetrasiloxane, cyclized diphenylsiloxanes such as octaphenylcyclotetrasiloxane, and cyclized methyltrifluoropropylsiloxanes such as trimethyltrifluoropropylcyclotrisiloxane. Of these, cyclized dimethylsiloxanes such as octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane are preferred because of the availability of starting reactants from which they are prepared. The use of cyclized dimethylsiloxanes in combination with cyclized methylvinylsiloxanes is also preferred from the standpoint of introducing alkenyl groups serving as the crosslinking site. These cyclic siloxanes may be used alone or in admixture of two or more. The end capping agent (B) is used for stopping polymerization reaction for adjusting the weight average molecular weight of the resulting organopolysiloxane gum. Well-known chain stoppers including vinyl chain stoppers and trialkylsiloxy chain stoppers such as methyl chain stoppers are useful. Illustrative end capping agents are of the following formula (2). Herein, R 3 to R 8 are substituted or unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon groups and may be identical or different. The monovalent hydrocarbon groups represented by R 3 to R 8 are preferably those having the same number of carbon atoms as R 1 and R 2 in formula (1), with illustrative examples thereof being the same as listed above. In particular, R 7 and R 8 are preferably methyl or vinyl, especially vinyl. The letter m is an integer of 1 to 200, preferably 10 to 100, and more preferably 20 to 80. The end capping agents may be used alone or in admixture of two or more and selected in accordance with the end use of the final product. Of the foregoing stoppers, trialkylsiloxy chain stoppers such as methyl chain stoppers and alkenyl group-containing alkylsiloxy chain stoppers such as vinyl chain stoppers are preferably used. The amount of the end capping agent used is preferably about 0.0001 to 10 parts, and more preferably about 0.0001 to 5 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the cyclopolysiloxane of formula (1). A smaller amount of the end capping agent would give an organopolysiloxane gum whose ends are not fully capped. An excess amount of the end capping agent would not give a gum-like organopolysiloxane since the degree of polymerization would become low. In step (I), the cyclopolysiloxane (A) and the end capping agent (B) are mixed by any desired technique. If desired, the mixing of the cyclopolysiloxane (A) and the end capping agent (B) may be followed by pneumatic conveying using an inert gas such as nitrogen gas for the purposes of dehydrating both the components and removing carbon dioxide. Alternatively, the mixture may be dried using silica gel or molecular sieve. Step (II) is to feed the mixture of components (A) and (B) resulting from step (I) to a self-cleaning continuous polymerization reactor, continuously feed (C) an alkaline polymerization catalyst to the mixture, and effect polymerization at a temperature of 100 to 250°C, preferably 130 to 250°C and under subatmospheric pressure. The alkaline polymerization catalysts used herein include alkali metal compounds such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and cesium hydroxide, and silanolates thereof, with silanolates of alkali metal hydroxides being preferred. The alkali metal compounds and silanolates thereof can be neutralized and deactivated with acidic neutralizing agents such as hydrochloric acid, ethylene chlorohydrin, acetic acid, and carbon dioxide. Here, silanolates of alkali metal hydroxides are preferred, and the dimethylpolysiloxanate of potassium hydroxide is most preferred. The self-cleaning continuous polymerization reactor used in step (II) may be a self-cleaning reactor (SCR) or N-SCR, both commercially available from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries K.K., for example. Referring to FIG. 1, an SCR is illustrated as comprising a generally cylindrical container 1 defining a "8"-shaped cross section interior in which two shafts 2 and 3 rotating in the same direction are juxtaposed. Each of the rotating shafts 2 and 3 is provided with a plurality of helically arranged eccentric thick disks 4 and 5. Each rotating shaft forms a rotor with the plural eccentric disks. As the two shafts 2 and 3 rotate at an equal speed, the outer peripheries of the paired rotors, the side surfaces of the disks on the juxtaposed shafts, and the outermost periphery of each rotor and the inner wall of the container move at a relative speed whereby all the surfaces within the container are completely cleaned. See Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Technical Report, vol. 24, No. 2, March 1987. The reactants are admitted into the container from one end thereof, longitudinally moved while being agitated by the rotors within the container, during which period polymerization reaction takes place, and then discharged from the other end of the container. The arrangement of disks is not limited to the helical arrangement and may be changed as desired. The polymerization in the self-cleaning reactor must be effected under a reduced pressure of up to 500 mmHg, and more preferably up to 100 mmHg, and at a temperature of 100 to 250°C, preferably 150 to 200°C. By controlling the conditions of step (II) in this range, an organopolysiloxane gum of consistent quality and having a minimized hydroxyl content in the terminal unit and a high degree of polymerization can be produced. Most often, heat release starts at the same time as the onset of polymerization. The polymerization time is not critical although it is about 1/2 to about 2 hours. As opposed to the conventional polymerization reaction effected under atmospheric pressure or slightly higher pressure in the presence of alkaline catalysts, the invention employs a reduced pressure below atmospheric pressure for the polymerization reaction, enabling the water content to be effectively removed from the reaction system at the same time as the polymerization reaction. If the pressure during the polymerization step is at or above atmospheric pressure, the water content cannot be fully removed, which allows for formation of hydroxyl groups in the terminal units, failing to achieve the objects of the invention. Step (III) is to continuously add a neutralizing agent to the reaction product from step (II) in a sufficient amount to neutralize the catalyst. Step (III) may be done in the same self-cleaning reactor as step (II) without transfer or use a separate processor, typically extruder. Single, twin and multiple screw extruders are preferably used as well as other continuous processing machines. The thus obtained organopolysiloxane gum is ready for use. However, since low volatiles such as low molecular weight siloxanes and decomposed products of the catalyst remain in the organopolysiloxane gum product, a desirable practice is to remove the low volatiles from the organopolysiloxane gum before the gum is used. It is thus recommended that step (III) is followed by step (IV) of continuously removing the cyclopolysiloxanes and volatile components remaining in the polymerization reaction product as polymerization residues. Step (IV) preferably uses single, twin or multiple screw extruders and/or other continuous processors. The processor provided midway or downward with a vent or a thin-film or thin-wire degassing means is preferred for continuously removing the cyclopolysiloxanes and volatile components remaining as polymerization residues. Step (IV) is generally effected at a temperature of 150 to 250°C and at or below atmospheric pressure. Since a lower operating pressure is desirable, step (IV) is preferably designed so that evacuating operation can be carried out if necessary. By conducting step (IV), the content of low molecular weight siloxanes and decomposed products of the catalyst in the organopolysiloxane gum can be minimized. By means of the process of the invention, it is possible to obtain an organopolysiloxane gum having an average degree of polymerization of at least 3,000 and especially at least 4,000. The upper limit of the average degree of polymerization is not critical although it is usually 30,000 or less. The organopolysiloxane gum thus obtained may have terminal units substantially all of which are blocked with triorganosilyl groups originating from triorganosilyl groups at the ends of the low molecular weight, linear organopolysiloxane. That is, the gum has a minimized terminal hydroxyl content. The gum may have a relative viscosity ratio of up to 1.10, and especially up to 1.05, which is defined later. EXAMPLES Examples of the invention are given below by way of illustration and not by way of limitation. Examples and Comparative Examples In an experimental continuous process system as shown in FIG. 2, organopolysiloxane gums were continuously produced using the reactants and conditions shown in Table 1. The organopolysiloxane gums obtained were measured for rubber properties, with the results being also shown in Table 1. The reactants, cyclopolysiloxanes and end capping agent and the polymerization catalyst were continuously pumped by constant rate gear pumps. The self-cleaning continuous polymerization reactor used in step (II) was SCR by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries K.K. The extruder used in step (III) was KRC commercially available from Kurimoto Iron Works K.K. Step (IV) of removing low molecular weight siloxanes from the polymerization product was carried out by means of a thin-wire falling-film stripper. The organopolysiloxane gum, 10 g, was dissolved in 90 g of toluene. To this toluene solution were added 0.5 g of tetramethoxysilane and several droplets of tetrapropyl titanate. The viscosity of this solution was measured at the initial and after one hour. The viscosity after one hour was divided by the initial viscosity to give a relative viscosity ratio. A relative viscosity ratio approximate to 1 means that because of the substantial absence of hydroxyl groups in the organopolysiloxane gum, little condensation reaction took place between methoxy groups on tetramethoxysilane and hydroxyl groups, resulting in little viscosity change. As is evident from Table 1, an organopolysiloxane gum of consistent quality having a minimized hydroxyl content in the terminal unit and a high degree of polymerization can be prepared in a simple, efficient, continuous manner without a need for complex dehydrating pretreatment of reactants as required in the prior art. There has been described a process for continuously preparing an organopolysiloxane gum of consistent quality having a minimized hydroxyl group content in the terminal unit and a high degree of polymerization at a high productivity and a low cost. Although some preferred embodiments have been described, many modifications and variations may be made thereto in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims: A process for continuously preparing an organopolysiloxane gum, comprising the steps of: (I) mixing (A) at least one cyclopolysiloxane of the following general formula (1): wherein R 1 and R 2 are independently substituted or unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon groups, and n is an integer of at least 3, with (B) an end capping agent, (II) feeding the mixture of components (A) and (B) of step (I) to a continuous polymerization reactor, continuously feeding and mixing (C) an alkaline polymerization catalyst with the mixture, and effecting polymerization at a temperature of 100 to 250°C and under a pressure of up to 67 kPa (500 mmHg), and (III) continuously adding a neutralizing agent to the reaction mixture of step (II) in a sufficient amount to neutralize the catalyst, thereby terminating the polymerization reaction. A process according to claim 1 wherein in step (II), polymerization is effected under a pressure of up to 13 kPa (100 mmHg). A process according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the alkaline polymerization catalyst is an organopolysiloxanate of an alkali metal hydroxide. A process according to any preceding claim wherein the reaction product resulting from step (III) contains the cyclopolysiloxane and volatile components as polymerization residues, said process further comprising the step of: (IV) continuously removing the cyclopolysiloxane and volatile components from the reaction product. A process according to any preceding claim wherein the end capping agent is of the following formula (2): wherein R 3 to R 8 are substituted or unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon groups and may be identical or different, and letter m is an integer of 1 to 200.

Inventors: HAGIWARA YUTAKA, TAKAHASHI MASAHARU, HAGIWARA, YUTAKA, TAKAHASHI, MASAHARU, Hagiwara, Yutaka, Gunma Complex, Takahashi, Masaharu, Gunma Complex
Applicants: SHINETSU CHEMICAL CO, SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
Application year: 1999
Main classification: C08G77
IPC codes: C08G77