Crosslinking and Modification of Liquid Silicone Rubbers
摘要
This study examined how hydrophobic and hydrophilic nanofiller surface functionalization affects the mechanical and thermal properties of crosslinked liquid silicone rubbers. For this purpose, siloxane networks were prepared from poly(methyl-hydrogen siloxane) and divinyl poly(dimethylsiloxane) with a ratio of 60/40; 50/50, and 40/60 with the addition of different contents of hydrophobic and hydrophilic silicon(IV)oxide nanoparticles (1, 5, and 20 wt.%). FTIR-ATR spectra confirmed C = C bond reactions in vinyl siloxanes and highlighted nanofiller–matrix interactions. TEM analysis was used for topology evaluation and pictures confirmed that silicon(IV)oxide fillers were registered in the form of partially good dispersion. Addition of nanofillers increased the mechanical properties of obtained materials and greater increase of the tensile strength for the composites based on hydrophobic silicon(IV)oxide was assessed, compared with the hydrophilic ones. Nanofillers also improve the thermal stability of the synthesized materials, but the values of composites with hydrophobic silicon(IV)oxide are higher compared to composites with hydrophilic fillers, which is expected due to better compatibility of hydrophobic matrix and hydrophobic fillers. Nanofillers significantly improved the mechanical and thermal properties, with hydrophobic fillers yielding superior results.