Hydrolysis of polydimethylsiloxane fluids in controlled aqueous solutions.

Accelerated degradation tests were performed on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) fluids in aqueous solutions and in extreme chemical conditions (pH 2-4 and 9-12). Results confirmed that silicones can be degraded by hydrolysis. Higher degradation levels were achieved in very acidic and alkaline conditions.

Silicone-based surfactant degradation in aqueous media.

The increasing use of surfactants, such as modified polydimethylsiloxane-graft-polyethylene oxide (PDMS-g-PEO), requires studies on the fate of these compounds in the environment, and in particular in wastewater systems. A kinetic study, performed under three different pH conditions (pH2, 5.3 and 11) and using (1)H NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance), proves that hydrolysis of the siloxane chain takes place in all cases, with higher rates for the two extreme conditions.