Preparation and properties of silica tubes/high-temperature vulcanized silicone rubber composites

Abstract

In this article, the silica tubes were prepared by template-directed sol–gel method under the optimal synthetic condition. The prepared silica tubes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy. Silica tubes with uniform size and high aspect ratios have a diameter of 200–300 nm and a length of over 50 µm. The inner shape of silica tubes is rectangular. The prepared silica tubes were modified by hexamethyldisilazane. Silica tubes/high-temperature vulcanized silicone rubber (HTVSR) composites were prepared by solution mixing method. The mechanical, electrical insulating and dielectric properties were examined. The fracture surfaces of silica tubes/HTVSR were observed by scanning electron microscopy. The mechanical property and electrical insulating property of HTVSR were improved dramatically by the introduction of STs, and it was found the dielectric performance of the HTVSR exhibited an interesting change as the introduction of the silica tubes. The good overall performance of the composites gives a great potential of silica tubes to be ideal fillers for HTVSR used in aircraft manufacturing or other high tech areas.