Curable organopolysiloxane composition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1.

Field of the Invention

0001This invention relates to an addition-curing type organopolysiloxane composition which gives cured products in the form of gel with effective inhibition of oil exudation, and to cured products of the same.

2.

Description of the Prior Art

0002Cured products in the form of gel of silicone rubber (hereinafter referred to as "silicone gels"), with their excellent electrical insulation properties and stability of electrical properties as well as excellent pliability, have been used for potting or sealing of electric and electronic parts, especially as a coating material for covering control circuit components, such as power transistors, integrated circuits, capacitors, etc. to protect these components against thermal or mechanical interferences.

0003For forming such silicone gels, there have been known a variety of addition-curing type organopolysiloxane compositions.

0004For instance, there have been known those compositions which comprise an organopolysiloxane having silicon-bonded vinyl groups and an organohydrogenpolysiloxane having a silicon-bonded hydrogen atom and from which silicone gels are obtained through crosslinking in the presence of a platinum catalyst (See, for example, Japanese Preexamination Patent Publication (KOKAI) Nos. 56-143241 (1981), 62-39659 (1987), 63-35655 (1988) and 63-33475 (1988)).

0005However, the silicone gels obtained from these organopolysiloxane compositions have the problem of exudation of oily components thereof. That is, when gels are formed from the conventional organopolysiloxane compositions, unreacted organopolysiloxanes may be left in the gel, or large amounts of inactive organosiloxanes may be formed during polymerization by equilibration reaction. Such unreacted or inactive organopolysiloxanes will ooze out of the surface of the silicone gel, thereby leading to contamination of electric or electronic parts, causing contact failure and the like troubles, or swelling other silicone rubber elastomers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0006Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide addition-curing type organopolysiloxane compositions capable of forming a gel with effective inhibition of oil exudation.

0007The aforementioned object is attained successfully according to this invention, by using a vinyl group-containing organopolysiloxane which, in part, has a silicon-bonded hydrogen atom.

0008According to this invention, there is provided an organopolysiloxane composition comprising: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none"><li>(A) an organopolysiloxane having a silicon-bonded vinyl group and a silicon-bonded hydrogen atom,</li><li>(B) an organohydrogenpolysiloxane which has the following average composition formula [I]: <chemistry id="chem0001" num="0001"><img file="EP0444960A2_D0001.tif" /></chemistry> wherein R is a substituted or unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon group containing no unsaturated bonds therein, and a and b are numbers satisfying the inequalities: 0 &lt; a &lt; 3, 0 &lt; b ≦ 2, and 1 ≦ a + b ≦ 3, and which contains at least two silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms in its molecule, and</li><li>(C) an addition reaction catalyst,</li></ul>

0009the organopolysiloxane (A) containing each of said vinyl groups and said hydrogen atoms in an amount of from 0.05 to 4.0 mol% on average based on the total amount of the silicon-bonded monovalent atoms and groups in the organopolysiloxane (A), and containing from 0.05 to 1.8 said hydrogen atoms per one said vinyl group.

0010In this invention, the organopolysiloxane (A) as the main constituent is capable of forming a partially crosslinked structure by itself even where it does not take part in the crosslinking reaction effected by the organohydrogenpolysiloxane (B) acting as a crosslinking agent. Therefore, the organopolysiloxane is prevented effectively from being left uncured in the cured product of the organopolysiloxane composition, and the exudation of such uncured organopolysiloxane from the resulting silicone gel is obviated.

0011The organopolysiloxane compositions of this invention as above give silicone gels with effective prevention of oil exudation. It is therefore possible, by forming the silicone gel of this invention on the surfaces of electric or electronic parts, semiconductor devices, etc., to achieve effective coating or sealing of the parts, devices, etc., and to overcome effectively the troubles such as contamination of the parts, contact failure, swelling of other silicone rubber elastomers and so on which might otherwise arise from oil exudation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

0012The term "silicone gel" herein means a cured silicone product which has a penetration, as specified in ASTM D-1403 (1/4 cone), of greater than 0. The silicone gel is similar to silicone elastomers and silicone resins in that it has a three-dimensional network structure, but is distinguished from the silicone elastomers and silicone resins in that the values of the penetration of the latter cured silicones are 0.

(A) Organopolysiloxane

0013The organopolysiloxane of component (A) used in this invention is an organopolysiloxane which has a silicon-bonded vinyl group and a silicon-bonded hydrogen atom in its molecule and which may be either linear or branched in structure.

0014The organopolysiloxane may, for example, has the following average composition formula [II]: <chemistry id="chem0002" num="0002"><img file="EP0444960A2_D0002.tif" /></chemistry> wherein each R′ is a silicon-bonded monovalent atom or group selected from a vinyl group, a hydrogen atom and a substituted or unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon group exclusive of unsaturated aliphatic group, and c is a number of from 1.8 to 3.0. The silicon-bonded vinyl group and silicon-bonded hydrogen atom may be bonded either to a silicon atom at a terminal end of the molecular chain or to a silicon atom at an intermediate position in the molecular chain.

0015In the organopolysiloxane, the amount of the vinyl groups on an average is from 0.05 to 4.0 mol%, preferably from 0.2 to 2.0 mol%, based on the total amount of the silicon-bonded monovalent atoms and groups. On the same basis, the amount of the silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms on an average is from 0.05 to 4.0 mol%, preferably from 0.1 to 2.0 mol%. When the amount of the vinyl groups or the hydrogen atoms exceeds the range just mentioned, the resulting gel will be too hard to function as a gel, whereas when the amount is below the range, it is difficult to achieve gel formation.

0016The number of the silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms contained in the organopolysiloxane is from 0.05 to 1.8, preferably from 0.06 to 0.9, per one silicon-bonded vinyl group. If the number of said hydrogen atoms is excessively large as compared with the number of said vinyl groups, the resulting gel will again be too hard to function as a gel.

0017The aforementioned silicon-bonded monovalent atoms or groups other than the vinyl groups and hydrogen atoms are substituted or unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon groups exclusive of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon groups. The substituted or unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon groups are generally those having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and include, for example, alkyl groups having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, decyl, dodecyl, etc.; aralkyl groups having from 7 to 12 carbon atoms, such as 2-phenylethyl, 2-phenylpropyl, etc.; aryl groups having from 6 to 12 carbon atoms, such as phenyl, tolyl, etc.; and substituted hydrocarbon groups such as 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl, and so on. Of these monovalent hydrocarbon groups, the methyl group is preferred in view of the heat resistance and other physical properties of the resulting gel.

0018Specific examples of the organopolysiloxane of component (A) include the followings: <chemistry id="chem0003" num="0003"><img file="EP0444960A2_D0003.tif" /></chemistry><chemistry id="chem0004" num="0004"><img file="EP0444960A2_D0004.tif" /></chemistry> wherein a to r are each a positive integer.

0019It is preferable that the viscosity of the organopolysiloxne at 25°C be in the range of from 100 to 100,000 cP, more preferably from 300 to 5,000 cP. If the viscosity is too low, the composition will be excessively fluid and the physical properties obtained after reaction will be unsatisfactory. Too high a viscosity value, on the other hand, renders the composition poor in workability and defoamability.

0020The organopolysiloxane of component (A) can be produced by a method which is known per se. Further, the organopolysiloxane may be either linear or branched in structure, as mentioned above. In order to form a silicone gel having good cold resistance, however, a branched structure is preferred.

(B) Organohydrogenpolysiloxane

0022The organohydrogenpolysiloxane (B) has the aforementioned average composition formula [I]: <chemistry id="chem0005" num="0005"><img file="EP0444960A2_D0005.tif" /></chemistry> wherein a and b are numbers satisfying the inequalities: 0 &lt; a &lt; 3, 0 &lt; b ≦ 2, and 1 ≦ a + b ≦ 3, and R is an organic group as a side chain bonded to a silicon atom and is a substituted or unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon groups containing no unsaturated bond.

0023Examples of R include the groups mentioned above as exemplar R′ groups in the formula [II], except the vinyl group.

0024The organohydrogenpolysiloxane of component (B) used in this invention serves as a crosslinking agent, and performs an addition reaction with the vinyl groups in the component (A) to form a silicone gel. The organohydrogenpolysiloxane should have at least two silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms in its molecule. Such hydrogen atoms may be bonded either to a silicon atom at a terminal end of the molecule or to a silicon atom at an intermediate position in the molecule.

0025The siloxane skeleton of the organohydrogenpolysiloxane may be linear, cyclic or branched. When the resulting silicone gel is required to show good cold resistance in its use, however, a branched siloxane skeleton is preferred. For use where a certain strength must be maintained, the organohydrogenpolysiloxane may be a resinous one soluble in nonpolar solvents. The viscosity of the organohydrogenpolysiloxane is not particularly restricted; however, a viscosity in the range from 10 to 1,000 cP (at 25°C) is preferred, in view of easy synthesis of the organohydrogenpolysiloxane and workability of the resulting composition.

0026The organohydrogenpolysiloxane (B) is used in an amount such that the total number of the silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms in the components (A) and (B) is preferably from 0.5 to 2, more preferably from 0.6 to 1, per one silicon-bonded vinyl group in the component (A). If the amount of the silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms is too small, some vinyl groups will be left in the resulting silicone gel, resulting in poor heat resistance. If the amount of the silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms is too large, the heat resistance is again poor, and foaming may take place at the time of curing.

(C) Addition reaction catalyst

0027The addition reaction catalyst used in this invention may be any catalyst which is capable of accelerating the addition reaction between the vinyl groups in the component (A) and the hydrosilyl groups in the components (A) and (B). Representative addition reaction catalysts usable are platinum, palladium and rhodium catalysts. More specific examples of the addition catalysts include chloroplatinic acid, alcohol-modified chloroplatinic acid, coordination compounds of chloroplatinic acid with an olefin, vinylsiloxane or acetylene compound, tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium, chlorotris(triphenylphosphine)rhodium, etc., of which particularly preferred are platinum catalysts.

0028The catalysts are generally used in an amount of from 0.1 to 100 ppm based on the total amount of the components (A) and (B).

Other compounding ingredients

0029In addition to the above components (A) to (C), the organopolysiloxane composition according to this invention may further contain a variety of compounding ingredients, which are known per se.

0030For example, inorganic filler such as fumed silica, silica aerogel, precipitated silica, pulverized silica, diatomaceous earth, iron oxide, zinc oxide, titanium oxide, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, zinc carbonate, carbon black, and so on can be added to the composition of this invention, in order to control the hardness, mechanical strength, etc. of the silicone gel obtained from the composition. Of course, hollow inorganic fillers, hollow organic fillers, spherical fillers of an organosilicone resin or rubbery material, etc. may also be added. Further, reaction inhibitor such as cyclic polymethylvinylsiloxane compounds, acetylene compounds, organophosphorus compound, etc. can be added to the composition, thereby controlling the curing reaction. Moreover, an organopolysiloxane having at least one silicon-bonded vinyl group in its molecule may be added to the composition, for controlling the hardness, etc. of the resulting silicone gel. Such compounding ingredients can be used in any desired amount, unless detrimental to the properties of the silicone gel obtained.

Formation of silicone gel

0031The organopolysiloxane composition of this invention, comprising the aforementioned components, can be cured into a silicone gel which is free from oil exudation.

0032The formation of the silicone gel may be carried out by the conventionally known methods, for example, by pouring the addition-curing type organopolysiloxane composition of the invention into a suitable mold and curing the composition, or by coating an appropriate substrate with the composition and then curing the composition. Generally, the curing can be performed easily by a heating treatment at 60 to 150°C for about 180 seconds to 30 minutes.

EXAMPLES

0033This invention will now be further illustrated by the following examples. In the examples, Me and Vi represent the methyl and the vinyl group, respectively, all the viscosity values are values at 25°C.

Example 1

0034A uniform mixture was prepared using 100 parts by weight of an organopolysiloxane comprising 0.52 mol% of ViMe₂SiO_0.5 units, 0.52 mol% of HMe₂SiO_0.5 units, 0.26 mol% of ViMeSiO units and 98.7 mol% of Me₂SiO units and having a viscosity of 600 cP, 1 part by weight of a methylhydrogenpolysiloxane comprising 10 mol% of HMe₂SiO_0.5 units and 90 mol% of Me₂SiO units, and 0.01 part by weight of ethynylcyclohexanol. To the mixture was added a chloroplatinic acid-vinylsiloxane complex in an amount of 5 ppm, in terms as platinum, based on the total amount of the mixture. The admixture was mixed uniformly to prepare an organopolysiloxane composition I.

0035The composition I was cured by heating at 150°C for 1 hour, to give a transparent silicone gel. The silicone gel was subjected to a penetration test and an extraction test. The results are shown in Table 1.

0036The penetration and extraction tests were carried out as follows:

0037Penetration was measured according to ASTM D-1403, using a 1/4 cone consistometer.

0038Extraction test was carried out by subjecting 5 g of the silicone gel to Soxhlet extraction using n-hexane for 10 hours, and measuring the extracted amount.

Example 2

0039The procedure of Example 1 was repeated in the same manner as above except that 100 parts by weight of an organopolysiloxane comprising 1 mol% of ViMe₂SiO_0.5 units, 0.2 mol% of HMeSiO units and 98.8 mol% of Me₂SiO units and having a viscosity of 700 cP was used in place of the organopolysiloxane used in Example 1 and that the amount of the methylhydrogenpolysiloxane used in Example 1 was changed to 4 parts by weight, to prepare an organopolysiloxane composition II, and a transparent silicone gel was obtained therefrom.

0040The silicone gel was subjected to the same penetration and extraction tests as in Example 1. The results are shown in Table 1.

Comparative Example 1

0041The procedure of Example 1 was repeated in the same manner except that 100 parts of an organopolysiloxane comprising 1 mol% of Me₃SiO_0.5 units, 1 mol% of ViMeSiO units and 98 mol% of Me₂SiO units and having a viscosity of 700 cP was used in place of the organopolysiloxane used in Example 1 and that the amount of the methylhydrogenpolysiloxane used in Example 1 was changed to 6 parts by weight, to prepare an organopolysiloxane composition III, and a transparent silicone gel was obtained therefrom.

0042The penetration and extraction test results for the silicone gel thus obtained are shown in Table 1. <tables id="tabl0001" num="0001"><img file="EP0444960A2_D0006.tif" /></tables>