Preparation of porous silicon rubber membranes by breath figure method

Abstract

ABSTRACTA series of porous silicon rubber membranes with regularity and uniform size had been prepared by breath figure method form polydimethylsiloxane and hydrogen silicon oil (Si‐H1341). Hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity of polymer, different methods of cast films, co‐solvents, solid particle dispersants, temperature, solution concentration, and molecular weight of silicon rubber are considered and discussed in the article to analyze effects of experiment situations on porosity of porous silicon rubber membranes. Remarkably, using the method of blending silicon rubber with branch hydrophilic silica‐gel, large area hydrophilic modification of the silicon rubber can be achieved, and it is easy to form pores with regular structure. With synergies of co‐solvents, the excellent porosity with more rounded pore shape and better regularity is acquired. The results indicate that the pore size of the silicon were affected greatly by the addition of co‐solvent, the boiling point of solvent, molecular weight of raw materials, and reaction temperature. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47912.