Synthesis of a comb-like/bottlebrush-like silicone-epoxy co-polymer with high thermal stability and mechanical properties for ablative materials

Abstract A comb-like silicone-epoxy co-polymer was prepared by synergizing o-allylphenol modified (UC-233) and methoxy-terminated methylphenyl silicone intermediate (PMPS-S). The SEM and DMA revealed that the comb-like silicone-epoxy co-polymer showed better compatibility owing to the pre-chemical grafting reaction. Additionally, TGA revealed that the carbon residue of the comb-like silicone-epoxy co-polymer reached 45.06% at 800 °C in N2, the thermal stability of the comb-like silicone-epoxy co-polymer was improved and maintained the excellent mechanical properties of epoxy resin. Furthermore, TGA-FTIR shows the thermal degradation process that methoxy-terminated methylphenyl silicone intermediate (PMPS-S) and phenyl hydrogen-containing silicone oil (UC-233) could inhibit the degradation of epoxy resin. Therefore, it is believed that comb-like silicone-epoxy co-polymer, with mechanical properties, thermal stability and high thermal residual weight and will have application potential in ablative materials.