Preparation of KH550-grafted-nanosilica microspheres to improve the mechanical, thermal and wear resistance properties of fluoroelastomer

Abstract

We presents an innovative approach to addressing the mechanical properties limitations of fluororubber (FKM) in the industrial field. A novel functionalized nano-silica spheres (SiO2), grafted with amino groups, were constructed by utilizing chemical grafting. The surface modification of the nanosilica microspheres enables the formation of C=N bonds between the amino-functionalized nanosilica microspheres and FKM promoting high dispersion and strong interfacial bonding of SiO2, resulting in an exceptional mechanical enhancement function for FKM composite. Compared to original FKM, the FKM/SM-A-10 composite demonstrates remarkable improvements in both tensile strength and hardness by 242% and 49%, respectively. Additionally, there is a notable 40% enhancement in thermal conductivity of the FKM/SM-A-10 composite. This straightforward and efficient manufacturing approach for achieving high-performance FKM proves to be a valuable and practical foundation for industrial design.