Study on Optimization of Damping Performance and Damping Temperature Range of Silicone Rubber by Polyborosiloxane Gel

Polyborosiloxane gel (PBS-gel) with shear hardening properties was prepared by cross-linking boric acid and hydroxyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane through B–O–Si dynamic covalent bonding. The prepared PBS gel was mixed with methyl vinyl silicone rubber (MVQ), and a benzoyl peroxide (BPO) cross-linking agent was added to vulcanize the silicone rubber. At the same time, the gel molecules were co-vulcanizing with MVQ to produce molecular cross-linking. The effects of PBS-gel on the damping properties of silicone rubber were analyzed by dynamic rheological test, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and dynamic mechanical analysis. The results demonstrated that the damping performance of MVQ/PBS rubber is greatly improved and the rubber has a tanδ > 0.3 in the range of −25~125 °C. The shear-hardening gel is uniformly dispersed in the system, due to the combined action of covalent bonds and intermolecular forces, which act as an active molecular chain that can efficiently dissipate and transfer energy inside the silicone rubber.