Improving mechanical properties of silicone rubber for use as outdoor insulator sheds by manipulating matrix-filler interfacial compatibility. (4th September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Jian; Zhang, Xiaobing; Lu, Xiuqiang; Lin, Aiqin; Li, Xiaohong; Zhang, Zhijun
• Is Part Of: Materials research express. Volume 6:Number 10(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-09-04
• Subjects: silicone rubber -- nano-silica -- aluminum hydroxide -- surface-modification -- insulator sheds; Materials science -- Research -- Periodicals; Materials science -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1088/2053-1591/ab3e24
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2053-1591

Abstract

Abstract: Interfacial compatibility and particles dispersion are two vital influences for improving mechanical properties of silicone rubber (SR) nanocomposites. To achieve a high level of compatibility with SR-matrix, a series of dispersible nanosilica (denoted as DNS) surface modified with hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) as well as aluminum hydroxide modified with stearic acid (denoted as m-ATH) were synthesized and used as reinforcement fillers of SR-matrix nanocomposites. Results indicate that the compatibility can be obviously improved by modification of fillers. DNS surface-capped with 0.1 mol l −1 HMDS and m-ATH surface-modified with 0.1 wt% stearic acid exhibit excellent reinforcement effect. Compared with unmodified samples, the tear strength and elongation at break have been improved by 68.5% and 171.2%, respectively. Moreover, the as-fabricated DNS/m-ATH nanocomposite exhibits a tracking-erosion resistance of 1 A 4.5–0.83, a volume resistivity of 1.0 × 10 15 Ω·cm and a dielectric constant of up to 3.51, which are all much higher than the standards of high voltage insulator sheds. This indicates that the as-fabricated SR-matrix nanocomposite could be a qualified candidate material for high voltage insulator sheds.