Vulcanization and Thermal Properties of Silicone Rubber/Fluorine Rubber Blends

With the rapid development of automobile, aviation, aerospace, machinery and other fields, rubber products used in these fields required to meet higher requirements. Fluorine rubber (FKM) and silicone rubber (MVQ) have excellent performance in some areas. However, the FKM is poor in low-temperature resistance and processing performance, limiting its applicability. Although the MVQ has a wide range of temperature and excellent processing performance, but its mechanical properties and oil resistance are not good. In this work, the MVQ/FKM blends were prepared by two different mechanical blending methods. The effects of the mixing process, mass ratio, curing system and conditions of the blends were studied. The chemical compositions of the blends were analyzed by infrared spectroscopy (IR). The compatibility and the thermal properties of the blends were investigated by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. The results showed that the mechanical properties, compatibility and thermal stability of the blends were the best when they were prepared by kneading the FKM and MVQ individually in a two-rool mill roll, then mixing them together homegeneously with an MVQ/FKM mass ratio of 10/90, curing system of (4 phr, 1/9) dicumyl peroxide (DCP)/N, N-Dicinnamylidene-1, 6-hexanediamine (3# Vulcanizer), first curing conditions at 170 °C under 10 MPa for 30 min and post curing conditions at 200 °C for 6 hours at 1 atmospheric pressure.