siloxanes with terminal hydroxy groups are formed these siloxanes then react with one another by a condensation reaction to form the siloxane polymer a simplified representation of the process chemistry is shown below for a volatile siloxane oligomer such as octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane in which me represents ch 3 me 2 sio 4 h 2 o catalyst u2192 home 2 siome 2 siome 2 siosime 2 oh u2192 home 2 siome 2 siome 2 siosime 2 oh home 2 siome 2 siome 2 siosime 2 oh u2192 home 2 sio me 2 sio 6 sime 2 oh h 2 o the emulsion polymerization reaction effected in step ii can be stopped at the desired level of conversion of silicon monomer or oligomer to a polysiloxane and or particle size by using methods known in the art reaction times of less than 24 hours and typically less than 5 hours are sufficient to achieve the desired particle size and or level of conversion the methods for stopping the reaction typically encompass neutralization of the catalyst by the addition of equal or slightly greater stoichiometric amount of acid or base depending upon the type of catalyst either a strong or weak acid base may be used to neutralize the reaction care must be taken when using a strong acid base not to over neutralize as.