The effects of potassium titanate whisker (PTW) on the vulcanized properties

mechanical properties and thermal stabilities of heat vulcanized (HTV) silicone rubber were investigated

respectively. Simultaneously

the fracture surface of the composites and the dispersion degree of PTW were observed by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicated that PTW could accelerate vulcanization reaction

and improve maximum torque(M

H

) of the compound. The tensile strength

stress at the elongation of 100% and hardness increased with the PTW content. The addition of PTW with relatively low volume fraction to silicone rubber would lead to an increase of the thermal stability sharply

for the composite with 9vol% of PTW

the thermal decomposition temperature increased about 65℃ compared with the pure silicone rubber. The composite with 12vol% of PTW exhibited better thermal stability

the thermal decomposition apparent activation energy E of it was 193. 62kJ/mol

higher than that of the composite with fumed silica.