Thermal stability of elastomers

W. A. Romanchick, J. E. Sohn, and J. F. Geibel Synthesis, Morphology, and Thermal Stability of Elastomer-Modified Epoxy Resin, in ACS Symposium Series 221 — Epoxy Resin Chemistry II, R. S. Bauer (ed.), American Chemical Society, Washington DC, 1982, pp. 85-118. 

Synthesis, Morphology, and Thermal Stability of Elastomer-Modified Epoxy Resins... 

Thermal stability of elastomer can be assessed from the weight loss as a function of temperature. TGA thermograms of pure NR and its composites have been shown in Fig. 4 [65]. Conventional carbon black (CB) dispersed in NR caimot increase the thermal stability of NR while CNT dispersed in NR increase the degradation temperature significantly mainly due to thermal barrier of the nanoparticles. Another reason for this improvement might be due to restriction on the mobilization of rubber macromolecules in presence of CNT and carry out heat homogeneously and avoid heat concentration [88]. On the other hand, Falco et al. has shown similar thermal stability of composites to that of pure SBR with the addition of MWCNT [29]. 

Elastomers containing fluorine, also called fluorelastomers. These combine the good physical properties of organic elastomers with the thermal stability of inorganic materials. Trade names are Viton, Fluorel, Kel-F and Technoflon. 

MDI- or NDI-based PUs usually have better mechanical properties than PUs obtained from aliphatic polyisocyanates. The effect of various diisocyanates on the thermal stability of their PU elastomers is given below for a polycap-rolactone (mol. wt. 2000)/diisocyanate/BDO type elastomer of molar ratio 1 2.6 1 and synthesized using the prepolymer technique. 

Finally, all the additives prepared by hydroperoxide intermediates increase dramatically the life time (both in photo and thermal ageing) of elastomers such as EPDM(ENB) and polyoctenamer whose the original stabilities are well known to be very low. 

We recently synthesise a new polymer (see exp. part) containing significant amounts of tetra-methyl piperidine groups. Such a polymer is a very efficient polymeric thermal stabilizer for elastomer however, when present in low content in the polymer matrix its IR detection is not easy because of the low absorption coefficients of all its functional groups. 

The description of the physical properties of fluoroelastomers is necessarily less precise than that of fluoroplastics because of the major effect of adding curatives and fillers to achieve useful cross-linked materials of a given hardness and specific mechanical properties Generally, two parameters are varied increasing cross-link density increases modulus and decreases elongation, and raising filler levels increases hardness and decreases solvent swell because of the decreased volume fraction of the elastomer In addition to these two major vanables, the major determinants of vulcanizate behavior are the chemical and thermal stabilities of its cross-links The selection of elastomer, of course, places limits on the overall resistance to fluids and chemicals and on its service temperature range... 

In conclusion, the thermal stability of PVC/EPR is at least equal to that o a PVC having a comparable molecular weight, and no negative effect may be attributed to the presence of the elastomer. 

Fluorocarbon elastomers, such as copolymers of VDF and HFP, typically have a maximum continuous service temperature of 215°C (419°F). Some metal oxides may cause dehydrofluorination at a temperature of 150°C (302°F) or even lower.16 Copolymers of VDF and CTFE (e.g., Kel-F ) have a maximum long-term service temperature of 200°C (392°F). Fluorocarbon elastomers based on copolymers of VDF/HPFP (hydropentafluoropropylene) and on terpolymers of VDF/HPFP/TFE have lower thermal stability than copolymers of VDF/HFP because they have a lower fluorine content than the latter.17 A detailed study of thermal stability of fluoroelastomers was performed by Cox et al.18... 

The above thermal analysis studies demonstrated the enhanced thermal stability of POSS materials, and suggested that there is potential to improve the flammability properties of polymers when compounded with these macromers. In a typical example of their application as flame retardants, a U.S. patent39 described the use of preceramic materials, namely, polycarbosilanes (PCS), polysilanes (PS), polysilsesquioxane (PSS) resins, and POSS (structures are shown in Figure 8.6) to improve the flammability properties of thermoplastic polymers such as, polypropylene and thermoplastic elastomers such as Kraton (polystyrene-polybutadiene-polystyrene, SBS) and Pebax (polyether block-polyamide copolymer). 

Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is widely used to study the thermal stability of a polymer and to evaluate the effect of adding filler particles on the thermal degradation of the elastomers. 

Applications for the Stabaxol stabilizers include thermoplastic polyester urethanes, polyesteramide thermoplastic elastomers, castable polyester urethanes, polyester polyols, monofilament PET fibers, polycarbonates, polycarbonate/PETblends, EVA copolymers and poly(caprolactones). The thermal stabilization of poly(ethylene sulfide) is also accomplished with 4 % hexamethylenebis(t-butyl)carbodiimide and 2 % diphenylacetylene. Also, alternating carbon monoxide/ethylene copolymers are stabilized using aromatic carbodiimides. ... 

The thermal stability of fluorocarbon elastomers also depends on their molecular structure. Fully fluorinated copolymers, such as copolymer of TFE and PMVE (Kal-rez), are thermally stable up to temperatures exceeding 300°C (572°E). Moreover, with heat aging this perfluoroelastomer becomes more elastic rather than embrittled. Eluorocarbon elastomers containing hydrogen in their structures (e.g., Viton, Dyneon, and DAI-EL EKM) exhibit a considerably lower thermal stability than the perfluori-nated elastomer. Eor example, the long-term maximum service temperature for FKM... 

Another factor affecting thermal stability of componnds based on fluorocarbon elastomers is the curing (cross-linking) system nsed. This snbject is discussed at some length in the section on compounding. 

Careful studies of polyurea formations are generally quite difficult. Low-molecular-weight disubstituted ureas have such low solubility in most solvents that precipitation causes experimental difficulties the problem is even worse with many polyureas. In addition the rather limited thermal stability of polyureas at temperatures of about 200°C has detracted from what otherwise might have been a significant interest in these polymers for fibres. The major commercial interest has not been in pure polyureas, but rather in polymers containing polyurea blocks, as in water-blown polyurethane foams and in polyurea—urethane elastomers. The complexity of these commercial systems, which are nearly always crosslinked, has made kinetic studies difficult. 

In this paper, the thermal stability of the silicone elastomers, base silicone resins, fillers, and their interactions with each other within the silicone matrix are described. Thermal decomposition volatiles, obtained indirectly through solvent extractables, reaction kinetics of the materials as integrated circuit (IC) devices encapsulants will be discussed. 

The objective of this section is to characterize the thermal stability of uncured solid rubber-modified epoxy resins. The effects of extended thermal history on melt viscosity and epoxide equivalent weight are discussed. The influence of the type and concentration of CTBN elastomer in the solid rubber-modified epoxy resin on melt viscosity and EEW is also discussed. Mechanistic considerations are proposed to explain the side reactions which influence the thermal stability of solid rubber-modified epoxy resins. 

The formation of miscible rubber blends slows the rate of crystallization (Runt and Martynowicz, 1985 Keith and Padden, 1964) when one of the components is crystallizable. This phenomenon accounts for data that show lower heats of fusion that correlate to the extent of phase homogeneity (Ghijsels, 1977) in elastomer blends. Additionally, the melting behavior of a polymer can be changed in a miscible blend. The stability of the liquid state by formation of a miscible blend reduces the relative thermal stability of the crystalline state and lowers the equilibrium melting point (Nishi and Wang, 1975 Rim and Runt, 1520). This depression in melting point is small for a miscible blend with only dispersive interactions between the components. 

Perfluoroelastomers provide the elastomeric properties of fluoroelastomers and the chemical resistance of PTFE. These compounds are true rubbers. Compared with other elastomeric compounds, they are more resistant to swelling and embrittlement and retain their elastomeric properties over the long term. In difficult environments, there are no other elastomers that can outperform the FPMs. These s)mthetic rubbers provide the sealing force of a true elastomer and the chemical inertness and thermal stability of polytetra-fluoroethylene. 

---