Microcellular Crosslinked Silicone Rubber Foams: Influence of Nucleation Agent (Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane) on the Rheological, Vulcanizing, Cell Morphological Properties

Abstract

ABSTRACT A series of microcellular silicone rubber/silica/polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) foams were prepared by supercritical carbon dioxide. The effect of POSS particles on the rheological behavior, vulcanizing, and cellular morphology of the composites was investigated. The results showed that the POSS grafted carboxylic acid group can improve the matrix strength of silicone rubber. POSS grafted carboxylic acid group act as inhibiting agent in the vulcanizing process. POSS particles play an important role in the microcellular structure formation. When the POSS content was 2.0 wt%, the cell size and cell density can reach to 3.77 µm and 7.99 × 109 cell/cm3, respectively. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT