Abstract

In recent times, polymeric foams have been popularly used in various applications. To meet the demand for these applications, polymer foams with excellent mechanical and thermal properties are required. In particular, sili-cone foam has gained significant attention owing to its superior thermal properties and low density. In this study, the mechani-cal and thermal properties of silicone foams filled with wollastonite were investigated. A maximum tensile strength of 98.3 kPa was obtained by adding 15 phr of wollastonite. The specific gravity did not exhibit a marked difference up to 10 phr, but it in-creased substantially above 15 phr wollastonite. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that adding wollastonite to the silicone foam increased both the amount of residue and the thermal decomposition temperature. The morphologies of the silicone foams filled with wollastonite were observed by scanning electron microscopy.

Keywords: silicone foam;self-foaming;wollastonite;mechanical properties;thermal properties