Ring-opening polymerizations of γ-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) were carried out by using multi-metal cyanide (MMC) catalyst and the synthesized
homopolymer was a comb-shaped polymer with regular structure. The structure of the polymer obtained (P-GPTMS) was characterized by FTIR, 1H-NMR, and 29Si-NMR spectroscopy, and the molecular weight and its distribution were analyzed by size-exclusion chromatography with multiangle aser light scattering (SEC-MALLS). The thermal behavior of P-GPTMS was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). P-GPTMS with high molecular weight (Mn=18,000–80,000) and narrow molecular weight distribution (1.10–1.35) were synthesized when the dosage of MMC catalyst was 0.1% and polymerization temperature was 130 °C. The molecular weight of the product could be adjusted by controlling the polymerization time. The Tg of P-GPTMS is in the range of −34 to −30 °C. On the basis of the TGA data, the decomposition rate of P-GPTMS reached its peak at 374.14 °C and the entire decomposition stopped at 600 °C.
