ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: Incorporation of nanoparticles is a classical way of improving polymer properties requiring low quantity of fillers. A novel approach to significantly enhance the thermal degradation temperature is the integration of a high fillers quantity. The aim of this study is to optimize the thermal properties of a fluoroelastomer (FKM) by the addition of two types of nanoparticles: Carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and POSS (Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxanes). At the laboratory scale, the elaboration of the rubber is carried out in thin films, processed from solution and deposited with a Hand Coater. Nanofilled blends will be compared with the manufacturer’s cross-linked rubber (without nanofillers).
The thermomechanical properties of the new blends have been studied by DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry), TGA (ThermoGravimetric Analysis), DMA (Dynamic Mechanical Analysis). For practical reasons this work presents only the results with POSS Acryloisobutyl. Simply blending these POSS-based fillers into Fluoroelastomer (FKM) had expected effect on the mechanical properties, but slight improvement on thermal resistance. POSS can provide a considerable reinforcement of thermal degradation but in this case, the quantity of fillers exceeds the limits to get the expected results.
