Activator for the depolymerization of polysiloxanes which are crosslinked, optionally contain fillers and/or are uncrosslinked

Activator for the depolymerization of crosslinked polysiloxanes, uncrosslinked polysiloxanes, or combinations thereof comprising one or more monoesters of phosphoric acid, one or more diesters of phosphoric acid, or both, of the following general formula (I)

• O=P(OH).sub.n (OR).sub.3-n
• wherein n is 1 or 2 and the radical R denotes aromatic, saturated, unsaturated, straight-chain or branched aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and where when n=1 the radicals R can be identical to or different than one another, in a polydimethylsiloxane, optionally comprising 0.1 to 5% water.

Method for depolymerizing crosslinked or uncrosslinked polysiloxanes, which comprises applying to said polysiloxane one or more monoesters of phosphoric acid, one or more diesters of phosphoric acid, or both, of the formula

• O=P(OH).sub.n (OR).sub.3-n
• wherein n is 1 or 2 and the radical R denotes aromatic, saturated, unsaturated, straight-chain or branched aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and wherein when n=1 the radicals R can be identical to or different than each other, in the absence of a solvent, in an organic solvent, in a polydimethylsiloxane solvent or in a mixture of a polydimethylsiloxane and an organic solvent.