Synthesis, morphology, and thermal behavior of polyrotaxanes composed of γ-cyclodextrin and polydimethylsiloxanes

Epoxy-terminated polydimethylsiloxanes of two molecular weights (M (n) about 1,250 and 2,100) were proved to undergo inclusion complexation into the inner cavity of gamma-cyclodextrin, thus resulting in formation of polyrotaxanes. The supramolecular assembling, the structure, the morphology, and the thermal properties of polyrotaxanes were shown to depend on the polymer molecular weight, the molar ratio between the components, and the presence of free gamma-cyclodextrin.