Research on the preparation and thermal stability of silicone rubber composites: A review

Silicone rubber has excellent mechanical properties and thermal stability and is widely used in aerospace, mechanical manufacturing, and high-temperature sealing. However, with the development of industrial technology, the gap between the matrix's thermal stability and industrial requirements is gradually expanding, which has also attracted the attention of many scholars. Recent advances in formula innovation and process design provide paths to improve the thermal stability of silicone rubber. Metal oxide-containing compounds (CeO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3), carbon nanomaterials (carbon black, carbon nanotubes, graphene) are commonly used as functional additives to enhance the high temperature resistance of silicone rubber composites. The selection and dispersion of additives, the improvement of the preparation process, and the exploration of thermal aging mechanism are all key steps to improve the thermal stability of silicone rubber composites. This review presents the research ideas and the latest research progress on the thermal stability of silicone rubber composites. Meanwhile, based on our research and understanding, we discussed the complexity of the aging mechanism of silicone rubber in high-temperature environment and hope to provide new ideas for further research and applications.