Silicone polymer emulsions

Abstract

Silicone oil-in-water emulsions containing a polysiloxane containing polymer is prepared by first preparing a polysiloxane containing polymer by the polymerisation of siloxane containing monomers and/or oligomers in the presence of an inert organopoly siloxane and/or an organic fluid, a suitable catalyst and optionally an end-blocking agent; and quenching the reaction if required. If required one or more surfactants may be introduced into the polysiloxane containing polymer to form a homogenous oil phase. Water is then added (in an amount of 0.1-10 percent by weight based on total oil phase weight) to the homogenous oil phase to form a water-in-oil emulsion. Shear is applied to the water-in-oil emulsion to cause inversion of the water-in-oil emulsion to an oil-in-water emulsion. Finally, if required the oil-in-water emulsion can be diluted by adding more water.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A silicone oil-in-water emulsion comprising:
 an inert organopolysiloxane and/or an organic fluid; and   a polysiloxane containing polymer comprising the reaction product of siloxane containing monomers and/or oligomers in the presence of a catalyst and the inert fluid;   
       wherein the polysiloxane containing polymer is of the following general formula
   R (3-a) R 1   a SiO[(R 2 SiO) b (RR 1 SiO) c ]SiR (3-a) R 1   a   (1)
 
 
       wherein each R is the same or different and is an alkyl group containing 1 to 8 carbon atoms, a substituted alkyl group containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or a phenyl group; R 1  is a hydroxy group, a hydrolysable group, or an unsaturated organic group; a is zero or 1; b is an integer; c is zero or an integer; and the sum of b+c is equal to a value of at least 200. 
     
     
         17 . The emulsion according to  claim 16 , wherein the sum of b+c is equal to a value of at least 500, optionally is equal to a value of at least 1500. 
     
     
         18 . The emulsion according to  claim 16 , wherein the inert fluid is retained within the polysiloxane containing polymer in an amount of not more than 70% w/w. 
     
     
         19 . The emulsion according to  claim 18 , wherein the inert fluid is retained within the polysiloxane containing polymer in an amount of from 5 to 70% w/w. 
     
     
         20 . The emulsion according to  claim 16 , wherein the polysiloxane containing polymer comprises a degree of branching of less than 10%, optionally a degree of branching of less than 2%. 
     
     
         21 . The emulsion according to  claim 16 , wherein the inert fluid is selected from the group of an organic extender, a plasticizer, a natural oil, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The emulsion according to  claim 16 , wherein the inert fluid is a cyclic siloxane comprising between 3 to 20 silicon atoms. 
     
     
         23 . The emulsion according to  claim 22 , wherein the polysiloxane containing polymer is a polydimethyl gum. 
     
     
         24 . The emulsion according to  claim 16 , wherein the inert fluid is a trialkylsilyl terminated polydialkylsiloxane or a derivative thereof, and optionally has a viscosity of from 0.65 to 10000 mPa·s at 25° C. 
     
     
         25 . The emulsion according to  claim 16 , wherein the polysiloxane containing polymer is prepared via a reaction process selected from the group of polycondensation, chain extension, polyaddition, and ring opening. 
     
     
         26 . The emulsion according to  claim 16 , further comprising a surfactant, and optionally wherein the catalyst is part of the surfactant. 
     
     
         27 . The emulsion according to  claim 26 , wherein the polysiloxane containing polymer is prepared via a polycondensation reaction and the catalyst is dodecylbenzenesulphonic acid. 
     
     
         28 . The emulsion according to  claim 16 , wherein a homogenous oil phase is from 1000 to 100000 mPa·s at 25° C. 
     
     
         29 . The emulsion according to  claim 16 , prepared by a method comprising the steps of:
 (i) preparing the polysiloxane containing polymer by the polymerization of siloxane containing monomers and/or oligomers in the presence of the inert fluid and catalyst and optionally an end-blocking agent;   (ii) optionally quenching the polymerization process;
 wherein the inert fluid is retained within the resulting polysiloxane containing polymer; 
   (iii) optionally introducing one or more surfactants into the polysiloxane containing polymer to form a homogenous oil phase;   (iv) adding water to the homogenous oil phase to form a water-in-oil emulsion, the water being added in an amount of 0.1 to 10 percent by weight based on the total oil phase weight;   (v) applying shear to the water-in-oil emulsion to cause inversion of the water-in-oil emulsion to an oil-in-water emulsion; and   (vi) optionally diluting the oil-in-water emulsion by adding more water.   
     
     
         30 . The emulsion according to  claim 29 , wherein the sum of b+c is equal to a value of at least 500, optionally at least 1500. 
     
     
         31 . The emulsion of  claim 29 , wherein the inert fluid is retained within the polysiloxane containing polymer in an amount of not more than 70% w/w, optionally in an amount of from 5 to 70% w/w. 
     
     
         32 . The emulsion according to  claim 29 , wherein the inert fluid has a viscosity of from 0.65 mPa·s to 10000 mPa·s at 25° C. and is selected from an organopolysiloxane extender or plasticizer, an organic extender or plasticizer, or a cyclic siloxane comprising between 3 and 20 silicon atoms. 
     
     
         33 . The emulsion according to  claim 29 , wherein the siloxane containing monomers and/or oligomers comprise hydroxyl-terminated organopolysiloxanes. 
     
     
         34 . A personal care product comprising the emulsion according to  claim 16 . 
     
     
         35 . The emulsion according to  claim 16  in paints, construction applications, textile fibre treatments, leather lubrication, fabric softening, fabric care for laundry applications, healthcare, homecare, personal care, release agents, water based coatings, oil drag reduction, lubrication, and facilitation of cutting cellulose materials.