The mechanical and thermal properties of KH590-basalt fibre-reinforced silicone rubber/fluorine rubber composites.

Chopped basalt fibre (BF)-reinforced silicone rubber/fluorine rubber composites were investigated to improve their mechanical and thermal properties, in which the blend of silicone rubber (MVQ) and fluorine rubber (FKM) was used as a matrix of the composites, the BF was used as a reinforcement, and the coupling agents of KH550 (3-amino propyltriethoxysilane), KH590 (3-mercaptopropyl trimethoxysilane) and Si69 (bis(3-triethoxysilylpropyl) tetrasulfane) were used as the compatibiliser. The effect of length and content of the BF, and the type of coupling agent on the mechanical properties of composites were discussed. The results confirm that the mechanical and thermal properties of the KH590-BF/MVQ/FKM composites were optimal when the BF was 7 phr (parts per hundred rubber) with a length of 12 mm, and treated with coupling agent KH590 of 2.0 phr. Further compatibility between the BF and MVQ/FKM was optimum. The glass transition temperature (Tg) reduced from − 19.2 °C to − 28.0 °C, while the application range of KH590-BF/MVQ/FKM composites was widened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]