Synthesis of Amphiphilic Polysiloxanes Modified with Multi-cationic Groups to Improve Wettability of Polyester Materials

Amphiphilic polysiloxanes as polyelectrolytes have good water solubility and areconsidered as important conducting polymers. They have potential applicationsin biomaterials and composites. A series of novel amphiphilic polysiloxanes withpendant multi-cationic side chains were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization ofcyclosiloxane and graft reactions. Such amphiphilic polysiloxanes impart goodself-emulsifying property. A coupling reagent such as N,N-(γ-dimethylamino-propyl)-γ-aminopropyl dimethoxysilane was used in the polymerization reaction and benzylchloride was used as a cationic reagent in the graft reaction. FTIR, 1H NMR, and13C NMR were used to characterize the structures of functional groups of the preparedamphiphilic polysiloxanes. The viscosities and quantitative amount of cationic groupsof novel polysiloxanes were evaluated. The amphiphilic polysiloxanes modified withmulti-quaternary ammonium groups exhibit excellent surface activity. With increasedcationic degree the surface energy of polymer solutions is dropped to lower value. Thewettability of the polyester materials improves when they are treated with the novelamphiphilic polysiloxanes.