Enzyme-Initiated Devulcanization of Silicone–Gelatin Elastomers

Silicone elastomers are valued for their resilience, particularly in stressful environments. Commercial cross-linking processes lead to covalent bonds based on Si–C or Si–O links, which, like all conventional rubbers, make degradation of the elastomer difficult at the end of life. We show that hydrated gelatin, a natural protein, can be covalently incorporated into silicone elastomers to produce hydrogels; the protein serves as both a diluent …