MXene-modified silicone rubber composites with high thermal stability: Preparation and properties

Abstract

Abstract Herein, MXene (Ti3C2Tx)/silicone rubber (SR) composites with high thermal stability are prepared by incorporating MXene modified with chloroacetic acid and polysilazane in the SR matrix. Polysilazane is grafted onto MXene by a condensation reaction to weaken the interaction between MXene and SR. Polysilazane modified MXene (MP) chemically interacts with SR, which ensures the uniform dispersion of MXene in the SR matrix. Consequently, MP/SR composites have higher thermal stability than pure SR. Among, the MP/SR composites, the one with 0.3\xa0wt% MP (denoted as MP-0.3/SR) exhibits significantly improved thermal stability. The initial decomposition temperature (T1) and the temperature at which 50% weight loss occurred (T2) of MP-0.3/SR increase by 15.5 and 120\xa0°C, respectively, compared to those of SR. During the thermal degradation of the MP/SR composites, the crosslinking reaction is retarded; instead, the main chains of the SR undergo degradative rearrangement.