Introduction
Synthetic silicone rubber is widely used in fields such as aerospace, automotive manufacturing, and electronic electrical products due to its excellent heat resistance, cold resistance, weather resistance, and electrical insulation. However, its solvent resistance and surface energy still need to be improved. Vinyl-containing fluorosilicone oil, as a new type of modifier, can effectively improve the properties of synthetic silicone rubber and enhance its performance in harsh environments.
Enhancement of Mechanical Properties
The addition of vinyl-containing fluorosilicone oil can significantly enhance the mechanical properties of synthetic silicone rubber. Studies have shown that as the content of vinyl-containing fluorosilicone oil increases, the tensile strength and elongation at break of the modified silicone rubber both increase. When the addition of vinyl-containing fluorosilicone oil is 2%, the tensile strength of the modified silicone rubber can reach 11.38 MPa, and the elongation at break is 396%. This is because the vinyl groups in the vinyl-containing fluorosilicone oil can undergo cross-linking reactions with the silicone rubber, forming a three-dimensional network structure, thereby enhancing the mechanical strength and toughness of the material.
Optimization of Solvent Resistance
Solvent resistance is one of the important indicators of synthetic silicone rubber in industrial applications. The addition of vinyl-containing fluorosilicone oil can significantly reduce the adsorption of solvent by silicone rubber and improve its solvent resistance. Experimental results show that when the addition of vinyl-containing fluorosilicone oil is 20%, the adsorption of solvent by the modified silicone rubber in toluene solvent is reduced by 83.22% compared with that of the unmodified silicone rubber. This is mainly due to the strong electronegativity and low surface energy of the fluorine atoms in the fluorosilicone oil, which forms a dense fluorine-containing protective film on the surface of the silicone rubber, effectively preventing the penetration of solvent molecules.
Improvement of Vulcanization Performance
Vinyl-containing fluorosilicone oil also has a positive impact on the vulcanization performance of synthetic silicone rubber. Studies have found that as the content of vinyl-containing fluorosilicone oil increases, the scorch time (t10) and cure time (t90) of the modified silicone rubber both decrease. This indicates that vinyl-containing fluorosilicone oil can promote the vulcanization reaction of silicone rubber and improve the vulcanization efficiency. At the same time, shortening the vulcanization time helps to reduce production costs and improve production efficiency.
Changes in Thermal Stability
Thermal stability is an important indicator to measure the performance of synthetic silicone rubber in high-temperature environments. The addition of vinyl-containing fluorosilicone oil has a certain impact on the thermal stability of silicone rubber. Experimental results show that as the amount of vinyl-containing fluorosilicone oil increases, the 10% weight loss temperature of the modified silicone rubber decreases. This may be due to the fact that the fluorine atoms in the fluorosilicone oil are prone to decomposition at high temperatures, resulting in a decrease in the thermal stability of the silicone rubber. Therefore, in practical applications, it is necessary to reasonably control the addition amount of vinyl-containing fluorosilicone oil to balance the mechanical properties and thermal stability of silicone rubber.
Improvement of Surface Energy and Lubricity
Vinyl-containing fluorosilicone oil can reduce the surface energy of synthetic silicone rubber, thereby improving its hydrophobicity and lubricity. Silicone rubber with low surface energy has important application value in fields such as aerospace and automotive manufacturing, and can effectively reduce the friction and wear on the material surface. In addition, the improvement of hydrophobicity also helps to enhance the electrical insulation performance and corrosion resistance of silicone rubber in humid environments.
Conclusion
In conclusion, vinyl-containing fluorosilicone oil, as a new type of modifier, can significantly improve the mechanical properties, solvent resistance, vulcanization performance, and surface energy of synthetic silicone rubber. However, its impact on the thermal stability of silicone rubber needs to be considered in practical applications. In the future, with the in-depth study of the modification mechanism of vinyl-containing fluorosilicone oil, it is expected to further optimize its formulation and process, and develop synthetic silicone rubber materials with more excellent properties to meet the demand for high-performance silicone rubber in different fields.
