Polymeric curing agent reinforced silicone rubber composites with low viscosity and low volume shrinkage

A new type of polymeric curing agent (PCA) was synthesized to improve processing property, increase mechanical properties, and decrease volume shrinkage of silicone rubber. The PCA was prepared by co-hydrolysis condensation of dimethyldiethoxysilane (DDS) and polyethoxysiloxane, then modified by hexamethylcyclotrisilazane (D₃N). Commercial silica and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) were used as controls simultaneously. The properties of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composites were characterized by shear viscosity measurements, room temperature mass loss, linear volume shrinkage, stress-strain tests, swelling behaviors and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). PDMS composites using PCA show lower shear viscosity than those using commercial silica. Compared with the traditional PDMS/TEOS curing systems, PDMS/PCA curing systems behave relatively lower volume shrinkage, better reinforcement and thermal properties. In short, PCA acts as a good compromise in providing the best balance of processing property, volume shrinkage, mechanical properties and thermal stability in silicone rubber composites.