Solid-state polymerization of hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane. II

The solid-state polymerization of hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane has been shown, by means of specific ion scavengers, to proceed by a cationic process. The reaction occurs at the crystal surface rather than within the lattice and exhibits a polymerization rate which is inversely proportional to the defect and negative ion concentrations in the crystalline monomer.