CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This non-provisional application is a Divisional of co-pending application Ser. No. 11/363,316 filed on Feb. 28, 2006, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) on Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-056655 filed in Japan on Mar. 1, 2005, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This invention relates to room temperature curable organopolysiloxane compositions loaded with wet silica, and more particularly, to room temperature curable organopolysiloxane compositions which are useful in coating applications. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Known in the art are a variety of room temperature-vulcanizable (RTV) organopolysiloxane compositions which cure into silicone rubbers at room temperature. Rubbers resulting from such RTV compositions have improved weather resistance, durability, heat resistance and freeze resistance as compared with other organic rubbers and are thus used in a wide variety of fields. Especially in the building field, RTV compositions are often used for the bonding of glass plates, the bonding of metal and glass, the sealing of concrete joints and the like. Recently, RTV compositions newly find wide use as coating compound for buildings, plants, water conduits (inclusive of inner and outer surfaces) and the like. 
         [0004]    The compositions intended for use in coating applications should have an appropriate fluidity prior to use. Although silica fillers are often used in such compositions for the purpose of improving mechanical strength, the amount of fillers loaded must be limited in order to retain an appropriate fluidity. Also, if silica is loaded without pretreatment, a viscosity build-up phenomenon or crepe hardening phenomenon due to free hydroxyl groups on the silica surface will occur with the lapse of time. Compositions having a certain fluidity have a tendency that fillers will settle down and/or separate apart with the lapse of time. 
         [0005]    One well-known solution to these problems is to introduce a heat treatment step during the manufacture so that the fillers may become compatible with the silicone polymer. The addition of a heat treatment step, however, can cause a drop of manufacture efficiency. 
         [0006]    A number of research works have been made on the surface modification of silica fillers. Known methods include treatment with cyclic siloxane as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,938,009, simultaneous treatment of fillers with a monoalkoxysilane and a primary organic amine compound as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,024,126, and treatment with ammonia or its derivative and subsequent treatment with a silazane compound as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,635,743. Also known are simultaneous treatment with three components: hydroxylamine, cyclic siloxane and silyl nitrogen compound as disclosed in JP-A 49-98861; in-process treatment of silica filler with a siloxane polymer, a monosilanol and a silazane compound and in-process treatment of silica filler with a siloxane polymer and an amino group-containing silicon compound as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3029537. 
         [0007]    Known methods for the prevention of settling or separation include the addition of an anti-settling agent and the use of a special additive like the condensation product of D-sorbitol and benzaldehyde as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2946104. 
         [0008]    While a number of research works have been made on the surface modification of silica fillers and the selection of additives for the purposes of restraining a change with time of the viscosity of such compositions and preventing the fillers from settling down or separating, special treatments, the use of additives, and heat treatment during manufacture are economically disadvantageous. A further improvement is thus desired. 
         [0009]    Wet silica is inexpensive as compared with fumed silica. A high water content, however, makes it difficult in a substantial sense to use wet silica in RTV organopolysiloxane compositions utilizing hydrolytic condensation reaction unless heat treatment is performed beforehand. 
       DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    An object of the invention is to provide an RTV organopolysiloxane composition which maintains an appropriate fluidity and prevents a filler from settling down or separating without any special treatment and additive. 
         [0011]    The inventors have found that using a specific wet silica enables to formulate an RTV organopolysiloxane composition which maintains an appropriate fluidity and prevents the filler from settling down or separating without a need for chemical treatment of the silica filler, any additive, and heat treatment. 
         [0012]    Accordingly the present invention provides a room temperature curable organopolysiloxane composition comprising 
         [0013]    (A) 100 parts by weight of a diorganopolysiloxane having at least two silicon-bonded hydroxyl or hydrolyzable groups in a molecule, 
         [0014]    (B) 0.5 to 30 parts by weight of a silane having at least two hydrolyzable groups in a molecule and/or a partial hydrolytic condensate thereof, and 
         [0015]    (C) 0.5 to 300 parts by weight of a wet silica having a BET specific surface area of at least 50 m 2 /g, a BET specific surface area to CTAB specific surface area ratio of 1.0 to 1.3, and a water content of up to 4% by weight. 
       BENEFITS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    The RTV organopolysiloxane composition of the invention comprising a wet silica filler of choice maintains an appropriate fluidity and prevents the filler from settling down or separating without a need for special surface treatment of the silica filler, addition of any special additive, and heat treatment during manufacture. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Component A 
       [0017]    The diorganopolysiloxane serving as component (A) is a base polymer in the RTV organopolysiloxane composition of the invention. The diorganopolysiloxane has at least two silicon atom-bonded hydroxyl or hydrolyzable groups in a molecule. Preferred are diorganopolysiloxanes capped with hydroxyl or hydrolyzable groups at opposite ends of their molecular chain, represented by the following general formulae (1) and (2). 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0000]    Herein R is independently a substituted or unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon group, X is independently an oxygen atom or a divalent hydrocarbon group of 1 to 8 carbon atoms, Y is independently a hydrolyzable group, n is such a number that the diorganopolysiloxane has a viscosity of 20 to 1,000,000 mm 2 /s at 25° C., and “a” is 2 or 3. 
         [0018]    Suitable substituted or unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon groups represented by R include alkyl groups such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl and octadecyl; cycloalkyl groups such as cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl; alkenyl groups such as vinyl, allyl, butenyl, pentenyl and hexenyl; aryl groups such as phenyl, tolyl, xylyl and α- and β-naphthyl; aralkyl groups such as benzyl, 2-phenylethyl and 3-phenylpropyl; and substituted forms of the foregoing groups in which some or all hydrogen atoms are substituted by halogen atoms (e.g., F, Cl and Br) or cyano groups, such as 3-chloropropyl, 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl and 2-cyanoethyl. Of these, preferred substituent groups are methyl, ethyl and phenyl, with methyl being most preferred. 
         [0019]    X is an oxygen atom or a divalent hydrocarbon group of 1 to 8 carbon atoms. Suitable divalent hydrocarbon groups are of the formula: —(CH 2 ) m — wherein m is an integer of 1 to 8. Of these, oxygen atom and —CH 2 CH 2 — are preferred. 
         [0020]    Y is a hydrolyzable group other than hydroxyl group, situated at the end of the molecular chain of the diorganopolysiloxane. Examples of suitable hydrolyzable group include alkoxy groups such as methoxy, ethoxy and propoxy; alkoxyalkoxy groups such as methoxyethoxy, ethoxyethoxy and methoxypropoxy; acyloxy groups such as acetoxy, octanoyloxy and benzoyloxy; alkenyloxy groups such as vinyloxy, isopropenyloxy and 1-ethyl-2-methylvinyloxy; ketoxime groups such as dimethylketoxime, methylethylketoxime and diethylketoxime; amino groups such as dimethylamino, diethylamino, butylamino and cyclohexylamino; aminoxy groups such as dimethylaminoxy and diethylaminoxy; and amide groups such as N-methylacetamide, N-ethylacetamide and N-methylbenzamide. Of these, alkoxy groups are preferred. 
         [0021]    The diorganopolysiloxane (A) should preferably have a viscosity at 25° C. of 100 to 1,000,000 mm 2 /s, more preferably 300 to 500,000 mm 2 /s, even more preferably 500 to 100,000 mm 2 /s, most preferably 1,000 to 50,000 mm 2 /s. If the diorganopolysiloxane has a viscosity of less than 100 mm 2 /s at 25° C., it may become difficult to form a coating having good physical and mechanical strength. If the diorganopolysiloxane has a viscosity of more than 1,000,000 mm 2 /s at 25° C., the composition may have too high a viscosity to process on use. 
         [0022]    It is noted that the viscosity is as measured at 25° C. by a rotational viscometer. 
         [0023]    Illustrative, non-limiting examples of the diorganopoly-siloxane (A) are given below. 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0000]    Herein, R, Y and n are as defined above, and m′ is 0 or 1. 
         [0024]    The diorganopolysiloxanes as component (A) may be used alone or in combinations of two or more members having different structure or molecular weight. 
       Component B 
       [0025]    Component (B) is a silane and/or a partial hydrolytic condensate thereof. It is essential for curing the inventive composition. The silane should have at least two hydrolyzable groups bonded to silicon atoms in a molecule. Preferred are silanes of the general formula (3) and/or partial hydrolytic condensates thereof. 
         [0000]      R 1   b SiZ 4-b   (3) 
         [0000]    Herein R 1  is each independently a substituted or unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, Z is each independently a hydrolyzable group, and b is an integer of 0 to 2. 
         [0026]    Examples of the hydrolyzable group represented by Z are as exemplified for the hydrolyzable group Y, other than hydroxyl group, situated at ends of the molecular chain of diorganopolysiloxane (A). For Z, alkoxy, ketoxime and isopropenoxy groups are preferred. 
         [0027]    No particular limits are imposed on the silane and/or partial hydrolytic condensate as component (B) as long as it has at least two hydrolyzable groups in a molecule. Preferably, at least three hydrolyzable groups are contained in a molecule. A group other than the hydrolyzable group may be bonded to a silicon atom. The molecular structure may be either a silane or siloxane structure. In particular, the siloxane structure may be either straight, branched or cyclic. 
         [0028]    The groups other than the hydrolyzable group, i.e., groups of R 1  are substituted or unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon groups of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, examples of which include alkyl groups such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl and hexyl; cycloalkyl groups such as cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl; aryl groups such as phenyl and tolyl; aralkyl groups such as benzyl and 2-phenylethyl; alkenyl groups such as vinyl, allyl, butenyl, pentenyl and hexenyl; and halogenated alkyl groups such as 3-chloropropyl and 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl. Of these, methyl, ethyl, phenyl and vinyl are preferred. 
         [0029]    Illustrative, non-limiting examples of the organosilicon compound (B) include ethyl silicate, propyl silicate, methyltrimethoxysilane, methyltriethoxysilane, vinyltrimetho-xysilane, vinyltriethoxysilane, methyltris(methoxyethoxy) silane, vinyltris(methoxyethoxy)silane, methyltripropenoxy-silane, methyltriacetoxysilane, vinyltriacetoxysilane, methyl-tri(methylethylketoxime)silane, vinyltri(methylethylke-toxime) silane, phenyltri(methylethylketoxime)silane, propyltri (methylethylketoxime)silane, tetra(methylethylke-toxime) silane, 3,3,3-trifluoropropyltri(methylethylke-toxime)silane, 3-chloropropyltri(methylethylketoxime)silane, methyltri (dimethylketoxime)silane, methyltri(diethylketoxime)silane, methyltri(methylisopropylketoxime)silane, tri(cyclohexanoxime) silane, and partial hydrolytic condensates thereof. They may be used alone or in combination of two or more. 
         [0030]    An appropriate amount of component (B) compounded is 0.5 to 30 parts by weight, more preferably 1 to 20 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of component (A). Less than 0.5 pbw of component (B) may lead to insufficient crosslinking whereas more than 30 pbw of component (B) may result in a cured composition which is too hard and be uneconomical. 
       Component C 
       [0031]    Component (C) is a wet silica having a BET specific surface area of at least 50 m 2 /g, preferably at least 75 m 2 /g, more preferably 100 to 400 m 2 /g, a ratio of BET specific surface area to CTAB specific surface area in the range of 1.0 to 1.3, preferably 1.0 to 1.2, more preferably 1.0 to 1.1, and a water content of up to 4%, preferably up to 3% by weight. 
         [0032]    Silica with a BET specific surface area of less than 50 m 2 /g fails to impart mechanical strength. If the BET/CTAB specific surface area ratio is outside the range of 1.0 to 1.3, or if the water content is more than 4%, the composition will thicken or gel with the passage of time. 
         [0033]    As used herein, the BET specific surface area is a specific surface area as measured by the BET method in terms of a nitrogen adsorption amount, and the CTAB specific surface area refers to a specific surface area as measured in terms of an adsorption amount of N-cetyl-N,N,N-trimethylammonium bromide. As the BET/CTAB specific surface area ratio is closer to 1, the silica contains less pores in the interior, indicating a structure that adsorbs little water within internal pores. This suggests ease of water removal even when silica&#39;s apparent water content is high. 
         [0034]    The wet silica which can be used as component (C) is commercially available, for example, as Siloa 72X from Rhodia. The water content may be adjusted by holding wet silica in a dryer or the like. 
         [0035]    An appropriate amount of wet silica (C) compounded is 0.5 to 300 parts by weight, more preferably 1 to 200 parts by weight, even more preferably 3 to 100 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of component (A). Less than 0.5 pbw of wet silica fails to achieve reinforcement whereas more than 300 pbw of wet silica results in a composition having a high viscosity and low mechanical strength. 
       Other Components 
       [0036]    In the inventive RTV organopolysiloxane composition, catalysts may be added for promoting cure. Use may be made of various curing catalysts commonly used in conventional RTV organopolysiloxane compositions. Exemplary catalysts include metal salts of organocarboxylic acids such as lead 2-ethyloctoate, dibutyltin dioctoate, dibutyltin acetate, dibutyltin dilaurate, butyltin 2-ethylhexoate, iron 2-ethylhexoate, cobalt 2-ethylhexoate, manganese 2-ethylhexoate, zinc 2-ethylhexoate, stannous caprylate, tin naphthenate, tin oleate, tin butanoate, titanium naphthenate, zinc naphthenate, cobalt naphthenate, and zinc stearate; organotitanic acid esters such as tetrabutyl titanate, tetra-2-ethylhexyl titanate, triethanolamine titanate and tetra(isopropenyloxy) titanate; organotitanium compounds such as organosiloxy-titanium and β-carbonyltitanium; alkoxyaluminum compounds; aminoalkyl-substituted alkoxysilanes such as 3-aminopropyl-triethoxysilane and N-(trimethoxysilylpropyl)ethylenediamine; amine compounds and salts thereof such as hexylamine and dodecylamine phosphate; quaternary ammonium salts such as benzyltriethylammonium acetate; alkali metal salts of lower fatty acids such as potassium acetate, sodium acetate and lithium bromate; dialkylhydroxylamines such as dimethyl-hydroxylamine and diethylhydroxylamine; and guanidine compounds and guanidyl group-containing silanes or siloxanes as represented by the following formulae. 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0000]    These catalysts may be used alone or in admixture. 
         [0037]    When used, the amount of the curing catalyst is not particularly limited. It may be used in a catalytic amount. Typically, the catalyst is preferably used in an amount of 0.01 to 20 parts by weight, more preferably 0.1 to 10 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of component (A). If the amount of the catalyst, when used, is below the range, the resulting composition may become less curable depending on the type of crosslinking agent. If the amount of the catalyst is above the range, the resulting composition may become less storage stable. 
         [0038]    For the reinforcement or extending purpose, fillers other than component (C) may be used in the inventive composition. Suitable fillers include hydrophilic silica such as fumed silica and precipitated silica (other than component (C)), hydrophobic silica obtained by surface treatment of the foregoing silica with hexamethyldisilazane, cyclic dimethylsiloxane or the like, quartz, diatomaceous earth, titanium oxide, aluminum oxide, lead oxide, iron oxide, carbon black, bentonite, graphite, calcium carbonate, calcium silicate, silica zeolite, mica, clay, glass beads, glass microballoons, shirasu balloons, glass fibers, polyvinyl chloride beads, polystyrene beads, and acrylic beads. Of these, calcium carbonate, calcium silicate, silica zeolite, and hydrophilic silica having a BET specific surface area of at least 10 m 2 /g, especially 50 to 400 m 2 /g are preferred. 
         [0039]    The amount of the filler compounded may be selected depending on the purpose and the type of filler. Often the amount of filler is preferably 1 to 300 parts by weight, especially 3 to 100 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of component (A). 
         [0040]    In the inventive composition, optional additives may be compounded in ordinary amounts as long as the objects of the invention are not compromised. Suitable additives include plasticizers, colorants such as pigments, flame retardants, thixotropic agents, bactericides, fungicides, and adhesion improvers such as carbon-functional silanes having amino, epoxy or thiol groups (e.g., γ-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane and aminopropyltriethoxysilane). 
         [0041]    The RTV organopolysiloxane composition of the invention may be prepared by kneading components (A) to (C) and optional components in a well-known mixer such as a planetary mixer or kneader. One preferred procedure involves premixing components (A) and (C) and compounding component (B) in the mixture, and another preferred procedure involves premixing components (A) and (B) and compounding component (C) in the mixture. In the former procedure, the premixing of components (A) and (C) may be assisted by heat treatment at a temperature of at least 100° C., especially 120 to 180° C., although the heat treatment is not always necessary. Mixing of component (B) should preferably be performed in a substantially anhydrous atmosphere. 
       EXAMPLES 
       [0042]    Examples and Comparative Examples are given below for further illustrating the invention although the invention is not limited thereto. All parts are by weight. The viscosity is a measurement at 25° C. by a rotational viscometer. The water content of silica is determined from the difference between the weight of silica at 25° C. and the weight of silica after 110° C./2 hour heat treatment 
       Example 1 
       [0043]    A composition was prepared by intimately mixing 100 parts of α, ω-dihydroxydimethylpolysiloxane having a viscosity of 1,500 mm 2 /s with 10 parts of wet silica having a BET specific surface area of 175 m 2 /g, a BET/CTAB specific surface area ratio of 1.05 and a water content of 2.3% (Siloa 72x, Rhodia). The mixture was then admixed under vacuum with 15 parts of vinyltris(methylethylketoxime)silane and 1 part of γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane until uniform. 
         [0044]    The composition was held at 23° C. and RH 50% for 7 days while it cured into a sheet of 2 mm thick. Rubber physical properties (hardness, elongation at break and tensile strength) of the sheet were measured according to JIS K6249, with the results shown in Table 1. 
       Example 2 
       [0045]    A composition was prepared as in Example 1 except that 10 parts of vinyltrimethoxysilane, 3 parts of tetratitanium butoxide and 0.5 part of γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane were used instead of 15 parts of vinyltris(methylethylketoxime)-silane and 1 part of γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. After curing, rubber physical properties were measured. 
       Example 3 
       [0046]    A composition was prepared as in Example 1 except that 10 parts of vinyltris(isopropenoxy)silane and 0.5 part of Γ-tetramethylguanidylpropyltrimethoxysilane were used instead of 15 parts of vinyltris(methylethylketoxime)silane. After curing, rubber physical properties were measured. 
       Comparative Example 1 
       [0047]    A composition was prepared as in Example 1 except that 10 parts of wet silica having a BET specific surface area of 205 m 2 /g, a BET/CTAB specific surface area ratio of 1.6 and a water content of 2.5% (dry Zeosil 132, Rhodia) were used instead of 10 parts of wet silica Siloa 72X. After curing, rubber physical properties were measured. 
       Comparative Example 2 
       [0048]    A composition was prepared as in Example 1 except that 10 parts of wet silica having a BET specific surface area of 205 m 2 /g, a BET/CTAB specific surface area ratio of 1.6 and a water content of 6% (Zeosil 132, Rhodia) were used instead of 10 parts of wet silica Siloa 72X. After curing, rubber physical properties were measured. 
       Comparative Example 3 
       [0049]    A composition was prepared as in Example 1 except that 10 parts of fumed silica having a BET specific surface area of 200 m 2 /g and a water content of 1.0% (Aerosil 200, Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.) were used instead of 10 parts of wet silica Siloa 72X. After curing, rubber physical properties were measured. 
         [0050]    Note that physical properties were determined when the composition was just prepared (fresh) and after the composition was aged for 1 month and 6 months at room temperature. The fresh and aged compositions were examined for appearance by visual observation and finger touch and their viscosity measured. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Example 
                 Comparative Example 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 1 
                 2 
                 3 
                 1 
                 2 
                 3 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Fresh 
                 Appearance 
                 Good 
                 Good 
                 Good 
                 Good 
                 Grains 
                 Grains 
               
               
                   
                 Viscosity 
                 8.3 
                 9.5 
                 6.7 
                 8.5 
                 9.5 
                 8.3 
               
               
                   
                 (Pa-s) 
               
               
                   
                 Hardness 
                 42 
                 39 
                 43 
                 41 
                 40 
                 39 
               
               
                   
                 (Durometer A) 
               
               
                   
                 Elongation 
                 170 
                 200 
                 180 
                 160 
                 160 
                 170 
               
               
                   
                 at break (%) 
               
               
                   
                 Tensile strength 
                 1.6 
                 1.5 
                 1.8 
                 1.5 
                 1.6 
                 1.7 
               
               
                   
                 (MPa) 
               
               
                 After 
                 Appearance 
                 Good 
                 Good 
                 Good 
                 Separated 
                 Gelled 
                 Slightly 
               
               
                 1 month 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 separated 
               
               
                   
                 Viscosity 
                 8.2 
                 9.3 
                 6.7 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
               
               
                   
                 (Pa-s) 
               
               
                   
                 Hardness 
                 43 
                 38 
                 43 
                 33 
                   
                 34 
               
               
                   
                 (Durometer A) 
               
               
                   
                 Elongation 
                 160 
                 210 
                 180 
                 100 
                   
                 130 
               
               
                   
                 at break (%) 
               
               
                   
                 Tensile strength 
                 1.6 
                 1.6 
                 1.8 
                 0.6 
                   
                 1.2 
               
               
                   
                 (MPa) 
               
               
                 After 
                 Appearance 
                 Good 
                 Good 
                 Good 
                 Separated 
                 Gelled 
                 Separated 
               
               
                 6 months 
                 Viscosity 
                 8.2 
                 9.2 
                 6.7 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
               
               
                   
                 (Pa-s) 
               
               
                   
                 Hardness 
                 43 
                 37 
                 42 
                 20 
                   
                 22 
               
               
                   
                 (Durometer A) 
               
               
                   
                 Elongation 
                 150 
                 220 
                 180 
                 70 
                   
                 110 
               
               
                   
                 at break (%) 
               
               
                   
                 Tensile strength 
                 1.6 
                 1.5 
                 1.8 
                 0.3 
                   
                 0.6 
               
               
                   
                 (MPa) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0051]    Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-056655 is incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0052]    Although some preferred embodiments have been described, many modifications and variations may be made thereto in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described without departing from the scope of the appended claims.
An RTV organopolysiloxane composition comprising (A) a diorganopolysiloxane having at least two silicon-bonded hydroxyl or hydrolyzable groups and (B) a silane having at least two hydrolyzable groups is loaded with (C) a wet silica having a BET surface area of 50-400 m 2 /g, a BET/CTAB surface area ratio of 1.0-1.3, and a water content of up to 4%. The composition maintains an appropriate fluidity and prevents the filler from settling down or separating without a need for special surface treatment of the silica filler, addition of any special additive, and heat treatment during manufacture.