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Hyperbranched polysiloxanes enhance silicone release coatings
A research team in China has developed a novel hydrogen-terminated hyperbranched polysiloxane (HTHPSi), significantly improving the mechanical and release properties of silicone-based release coatings.
Researchers from China have introduced a new class of hydrogen-terminated hyperbranched polysiloxanes (HTHPSi) to improve the performance of silicone-based release coatings. Their study, published in Progress in Organic Coatings (Volume 200, March 2025), addresses the challenge of enhancing both mechanical strength and release properties in anti-sticking systems used in industries such as electronics and packaging.
Conventional systems often rely on polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS) as a crosslinker. By replacing PMHS with HTHPSi, the team successfully modified the crosslinking network, resulting in a significant performance boost. The tensile strength of the release coatings increased by 272 %, while the peel force dropped to just 11.5 g/25 mm. Furthermore, the modified coatings maintained a high subsequent adhesion rate of 98 %, indicating minimal migration of silicone segments into adjacent adhesive layers.
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Network structure and thermal stability
The study also analysed how different crosslinking structures influenced key performance metrics, such as surface roughness and surface energy. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the modified coatings offer good thermal stability, further supporting their suitability for industrial application.
By combining a dense crosslinking structure with a hyperbranched molecular design, the researchers demonstrated that HTHPSi-based formulations could set new standards in release coating technologies.
Source: Zhuang, M. et al. Construction and properties of release coating based on hydrogen-terminated hyperbranched polysiloxane, Progress in Organic Coatings, Volume 200, March 2025, 108968.
