Recent advances in UV/thermal curing silicone polymers

Silicone polymers exhibit various attractive properties such as outstanding biocompatibility, transparency, and stable chemical properties so that can be applied in coatings, additive manufacturing and flexible electronics. In these fields, the structural design of functionalized silicone polymers is the hot issue, especially silicones with dual-reactive photosensitive and thermosensitive groups. Indeed, some comments discussed thermal curing or ultraviolet (UV) curing silicone polymers, and the development of silicone polymers and copolymers. However, none of them have fully introduced the combination of thermal curing and UV curing for silicone polymers. Herein, we discuss UV curing mechanisms and the influence of silicone polymers with photosensitive groups on the curing process. Then, the approaches of UV curing combined with thermal curing are summarized for the aim of replenishing energy for the curing process and further improving the degree of curing. To deal with accidental damage, the introduction of dynamic bonds in the system to construct UV/thermal curing self-healing silicone polymers is highlighted. Subsequently, we summarize additive manufacturing, which could well demonstrate the superiority of UV/thermal curing silicone polymers. Finally, the corresponding challenges and future opportunities are contemplated.

Automated summary

The structural design of silicone polymers is a hot topic, and UV/thermal cured silicone polymers exhibit excellent properties and can be applied in coatings, additive manufacturing, and flexible electronics.