Progress in the Study of the Degradation and Stabilisation of Siloxane Polymers

The most recent achievements in the study of the degradation and the stabilsation of polyorganosiloxanes, including those containing other atoms in the chain, are surveyed. The effect of polymer structure on their thermal stability is examined, and the part played by catalytic impurities in developing processes of thermal and thermo-oxidative degradation is shown. Known schemes for the decomposition of polyorganosiloxanes are discussed. Data are given on methods of stabilising siloxane polymers. The list of references contains 141 items.