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Daeyul Kwon
Daeyul Kwon

Public Documents 1
Siloxane Bond Exchange Enables Sustainable Recycling of PDMS Coated Nylon 6,6 Airbag...
Daeyul Kwon
In Soo Han

Daeyul Kwon

and 5 more

June 18, 2025
The selective removal of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coatings from nylon 6,6 airbag fabrics is essential for enabling circular reuse of high-value technical textiles. In this study, a nonaqueous depolymerization method was developed using potassium hydroxide (KOH) as a catalyst in isopropyl alcohol (IPA) as the solvent, targeting siloxane bond exchange to cleave crosslinked PDMS networks. Among the solvents evaluated, IPA demonstrated optimal compatibility, enabling complete PDMS removal and efficient solvent recovery. KOH concentration emerged as a critical parameter, with 0.75 wt% resulting in effective depolymerization while minimizing the degradation of mechanical performance. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy analyses confirmed the elimination of silicone residues and preservation of the nylon backbone. Mechanical and thermal characterizations demonstrated that key properties, including tensile strength, ductility, impact resistance, and heat deflection temperature, were retained after treatment. The proposed approach offers a scalable and fabric-safe solution for the sustainable recycling of silicone-coated textiles from end-of-life airbag materials, without the need for additional reinforcement or polymer modification.

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