Effects of silphenylene units on the thermal stability of silicone resins

A series of silicone resins containing silphenylene units were synthesized by a hydrolysis-polycondensation method, with methyltriethoxysilane, dimethyldiethoxysilane and 1,4-bis(ethoxydimethylsilyl)benzene. Their thermal degradation behaviours were studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermogravimetry (DTG) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and the effect of silphenylene units on the thermal stability of silicone resins was also investigated. Results showed that the thermal stability of silicone resins was improved by the introduction of silphenylene units into the backbone. Under nitrogen atmosphere, the temperature for maximum degradation rate of silicone resins with silphenylene units was lower compared to the pure methylsilicone resin. With the increase of silphenylene units, the amount of degradation residues increased under nitrogen atmosphere while it decreased under air atmosphere. Additionally, the short-term and long-term stability of silicone resins were also improved by the introduction of silphenylene units.