ENCAPSULATED CATALYST FOR ONE-PART ORGANOPOLYSILOXANE SYSTEMS AND METHODS RELATED THERETO

1 . A curable organopolysiloxane composition comprising:

(A) an organopolysiloxane represented by the average unit formula:

R a SiO (4-a)/2

wherein, R is a substituted or unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon group, and “a” is a number from 1.0 to 2.4, and having at least an average of 1.5 alkenyl groups in a molecule;

(B) an organopolysiloxane having at least an average of 1.5 silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms in a molecule;

(C) a particle comprising:

a) a platinum-group catalyst; and

b) a molecular weight controlled thermoplastic polymer having a T g softening temperature of at least 20° C. selected from the group consisting of:

i. polystyrene or a co-polymer thereof having a M w from about 500 g/mol to about 30,000 g/mol, and a polydispersity index (PDI) of less than 2;

ii. polymethylmethacrylate or a co-polymer thereof having a M w from about 500 g/mol to about 30,000 g/mol, and a PDI of less than 2; and

iii. polyacrylonitrile or a co-polymer thereof having a M w from about 500 g/mol to about 30,000 g/mol, and a PDI of less than 2,

wherein the platinum-group catalyst is fully encapsulated within the thermoplastic polymer; and

(D) a filler or treating agent, or combination thereof.

2 . The curable organopolysiloxane composition of claim 1 , wherein the curable organopolysiloxane composition comprises a filler.

3 . The curable organopolysiloxane composition of claim 2 , wherein the filler comprises at least one metal.

4 . The curable organopolysiloxane composition of claim 3 , wherein the at least one metal is silver or gold, or a combination of thereof.

5 . The curable organopolysiloxane composition of claim 3 , wherein the at least one metal is silver.

6 . The curable organopolysiloxane composition of claim 2 , wherein the filler comprises at least one metal oxide.

7 . The curable organopolysiloxane composition of claim 2 , wherein the filler comprises aluminum oxide or boron nitride, or a combination thereof.

8 . The curable organopolysiloxane composition of claim 2 , wherein the filler comprises at least one carbon filler.

9 . The curable organopolysiloxane composition of claim 8 , wherein the at least one carbon filler is selected from the group consisting of carbon fiber, carbon nanotubes, graphite, and graphene, or a combination thereof.

10 . The curable organopolysiloxane composition of claim 2 , wherein the filler comprises at least one microballoon.

11 . The curable organopolysiloxane composition of claim 10 , wherein the at least one microballoon is a glass microballoon.

12 . The curable organopolysiloxane composition of claim 2 , wherein the filler is present from above 0% to about 80% by weight of the curable organopolysiloxane composition.

13 . The curable organopolysiloxane composition of claim 1 , wherein the curable organopolysiloxane composition comprises a treating agent.

14 . A product produced by a process comprising the step of:

a) providing the curable organopolysiloxane composition of claim 1 ; and

b) heating the curable organopolysiloxane composition to a temperature effective to melt the thermoplastic polymer to release the platinum-group catalyst, thereby promoting a crosslinking reaction between components (A) and (B) to cure the curable organopolysiloxane composition.

15 . The product of claim 13 , wherein the curable organopolysiloxane composition comprises the filler.

16 . The product of claim 14 , wherein the filler comprises at least one metal.

17 . The product of claim 14 , wherein the filler comprises at aluminum oxide or boron nitride, or a combination thereof.

18 . The product of claim 14 , wherein the filler comprises at least one carbon filler.

19 . The product of claim 13 , wherein the curable organopolysiloxane composition comprises a treating agent.

20 . A method comprising the step of extruding, molding, or calendaring the curable organopolysiloxane composition of claim 1 .