Patent ID: 8344087

Claim:
A method of making a diluted chain extended organopolysiloxane containing polymer comprising the steps of: (a) reacting a pre-formed polymer with a chain extender reactable with terminal groups of the polymer, said chain extender being selected from the group of (v) a dihydrosilane; and (vii) a polydialkylsiloxane having a degree of polymerisation of from 2 to 25 and at least one Si—H bond per terminal group; in the presence of a diluent material, a suitable catalyst and optionally an end-blocking agent; and (b) where required quenching the chain extension process; wherein the diluent material is substantially retained within the resulting diluted organopolysiloxane containing polymer; and wherein the diluent material is selected from one or more of the group of a trialkylsilyl terminated polydialkyl siloxane where each alkyl group may be the same or different and comprises from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, polyisobutylenes (PIB), phosphate esters polyalkylbenzenes, and linear and/or branched alkylbenzenes esters of aliphatic monocarboxylic acids; or wherein the diluent material is selected from one or more of the group comprising linear or branched mono unsaturated hydrocarbons; and mineral oil fractions comprising linear (n-paraffinic) mineral oils, branched (iso-paraffinic) mineral oils, cyclic (naphthenic) mineral oils, and mixtures thereof.