Moisture curable compositions

1. A moisture curable composition comprising:

(A) a polymer containing reactive hydroxyl or hydrolysable groups bonded to silicon which groups are reactive in the presence of moisture;

(B) a crosslinking agent comprising at least two groups reactive with the silicon-bonded hydroxyl or hydrolysable groups of polymer (A);

(C) one or more reinforcing and/or non-reinforcing fillers; and

(D) a silane having the structure

(R 1 ) m (Y 1 ) 3-m Si—Z 1 -G 1 -Z 2 —Si(R 2 ) q (Y 2 ) 3-q

where R 1 and R 2 are alkoxy groups containing from 1 to 6 carbons,

Y 1 and Y 2 are alkyl groups containing from 1 to 8 carbons,

Z 1 and Z 2 are alkylene groups having from 1 to 12 carbons,

G 1 is a chemical group containing a heteroatom with a lone pair of electrons, and

m and q are independently 1, 2 or 3;

wherein silane (D) is present in an amount of from 15 to 30% by weight of the composition and functions as a cure catalyst for the composition.

2. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein polymer (A) has the general formula (1):

X 1 -A′—X 2   (1);

where X 1 and X 2 are independently selected from silicon containing groups which contain hydroxyl or hydrolysable substituents, and

A′ represents a polymer chain in which X 1 or X 2 groups incorporating hydroxyl and/or hydrolysable substituents is selected from the following groups: —Si(OH) 3 , —(R a )Si(OH) 2 , (R a ) 2 SiOH, —(R a )Si(OR b ) 2 , —Si(OR b ) 3 , —(R a ) 2 SiOR b or —(R a ) 2 Si—R c —SiR d p (OR b ) 3-p where each R a independently represents a monovalent hydrocarbyl group;

each R b and R d is independently an alkyl or alkoxy group in which the alkyl groups have up to 6 carbon atoms;

R c is a divalent hydrocarbon group which contains between 1 and 10 carbon atoms which may be interrupted by one or more siloxane spacers having up to six silicon atoms; and

p has the value 0, 1 or 2.

3. The composition according to claim 2 , polymer (A) is a diorganopolysiloxane that comprises:

20 to 100 parts by weight of (A-1) a diorganopolysiloxane capped at both molecular terminals with alkoxysilyl groups or hydroxysilyl groups; and

0 to 80 parts by weight of (A-2) a diorganopolysiloxane capped at one molecular terminal with an alkoxysilyl group or a hydroxysilyl group and capped at the other molecular terminal with an alkyl group or an alkenyl group.

4. The composition according to claim 3 , wherein (A-1) and (A-2) are present in a (A-1):(A-2) weight ratio of from 100:0 to 20:80.

5. The composition according to claim 3 , wherein (A-1) and (A-2) are present in a (A-1):(A-2) weight ratio of from 100:0 to 60:40.

6. The composition according to claim 2 , wherein polymer chain A′ is a siloxane-containing polymer chain comprising siloxane units of the formula (2):

—(R 5 s SiO (4-s/2 )—  (2);

where each R 5 is independently an organic group and s has, on average, a value of from 1 to 3.

7. The composition in accordance with claim 6 , wherein:

i) each R 5 is independently a hydrocarbon group having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, a substituted hydrocarbon group having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms or a hydrocarbonoxy group having up to 18 carbon atoms;

ii) s has, on average, a value of from 1.8 to 2.2; or

iii) both i) and ii).

8. The composition in accordance with claim 2 , wherein each R a independently represents an alkyl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, alternatively each R a is a methyl group.

9. The composition in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the composition is a two part composition comprising:

I) a base composition comprising;

30 to 70 weight % of polymer (A), and

30 to 70 weight % of filler(s) (C), and

optionally one or more additives,

with the total % weight of the base composition being 100 weight %; and

II) a cross-linking composition comprising;

crosslinking agent (B), and

silane (D) in a ratio of (B):(D) of between 1:9 and 9:1;

with the base composition and cross-linking composition being in a ratio of from 15:1 to 1:1.

10. The composition in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the cross-linking composition further comprises:

(E) one or more polymers unreactive with components (B) and (D); and/or

(F) a pigment or coloured filler.

11. The composition in accordance with claim 10 , wherein polymer(s) (E) is present, functions as a plasticiser or extender, and is selected from polydimethylsiloxanes having terminal triorganosiloxy groups or from organic polymers.

12. The composition in accordance with claim 11 , wherein polymer(s) (E) is selected from mixtures of paraffinic and naphthenic hydrocarbons, paraffin oils comprising cyclic paraffins and non-cyclic paraffins and hydrocarbon fluids containing naphthenics, polycyclic naphthenics and paraffins.

13. The composition in accordance with claim 11 , wherein polymer(s) (E) is selected from polydimethylsiloxanes having terminal triorganosiloxy groups and wherein the organic substituents of such groups are methyl, vinyl, phenyl, or combinations thereof.

14. The composition in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the cross-linking composition comprises:

2 to 50 weight % of crosslinking agent (B);

silane (D);

5 to 30 weight % of polymer(s) (E); and

1 to 15 weight % of filler(s) (F).

15. The composition in accordance with claim 1 , wherein silane (D) is selected from the group of Bis[3-trimethoxysilyl)propylamine, Bis[3-triethoxysilyl)propylamine, Bis[3-trimethoxysilyl)butylamine, Bis[3-triethoxysilyl)butylamine, and mixtures thereof.

16. The composition in accordance with claim 1 further comprising one or more additives selected from the group of plasticizers, extenders, rheology modifiers, adhesion promoters, pigments, heat stabilizers, flame retardants, UV stabilizers, chain extenders, cure modifiers, electrically conductive fillers, heat conductive fillers, fungicides, and/or biocides.

17. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition is a one part composition comprising:

30 to 70 weight % of polymer (A);

0.5 to 10 weight % of crosslinking agent (B);

30 to 70 weight % of filler(s) (C); and

silane (D);

with the total weight % of the composition being 100 weight %.

18. The composition in accordance with claim 1 , wherein crosslinking agent (B) comprises at least three groups reactive with the silicon-bonded hydroxyl or hydrolysable groups of polymer (A).

19. A coating, caulking, mold-making and/or encapsulating material comprising and/or formed from the composition in accordance with claim 1 .

20. A method of forming an elastomeric mass between at least two surfaces, said method comprising the steps of:

introducing a mass of a moisture curable composition between the surfaces; and

allowing the composition to cure thereby adhering the surfaces;

wherein the composition is in accordance with claim 1 .