Important Characteristics of Fluorosilicone Rubber

1. Oil, Solvent, and Chemical Resistance:

• Fluorosilicone rubber exhibits excellent resistance to oil, solvents, and various chemicals. Compared to methyl vinyl silicone rubber, it surpasses in oil and solvent resistance. Even when compared to fluororubber, it maintains good durability after immersion under the same conditions, making it the only elastomer resilient to non-polar media within the temperature range of -68°C to 232°C.

2. Heat Resistance:

• The high-temperature decomposition of fluorosilicone rubber is similar to that of silicone rubber, involving side-chain oxidation, main-chain breakage, side-chain thermal decomposition, and various composite reactions. Although its heat resistance is generally slightly inferior to silicone rubber and begins oxidative aging at 200°C, the addition of trace amounts of heat stabilizers such as iron, titanium, and rare earth oxides significantly improves its thermal stability, allowing it to maintain sufficient heat resistance even at 250°C.

3. Cold Resistance:

• Fluorosilicone rubber shares excellent low-temperature performance with regular silicone rubber. Due to its linear polymer structure mainly composed of flexible Si-O bonds, its low-temperature characteristics surpass those of fluororubber, which primarily consists of C-C bonds. Notably, the low-temperature performance of certain fluorosilicone rubbers, such as LS-2370U, is exceptional, with a brittle point as low as -89°C, surpassing typical fluororubber values of around -30°C.

4. Electrical Properties and Radiation Resistance:

• Electrical properties of fluorosilicone rubber are comparable to regular silicone rubber. Notably, its resistance to changes under harsh conditions like high/low temperatures, humidity, oil, solvents, chemicals, and ozone is minimal.

• While its radiation resistance is not outstanding, it is superior to that of methyl vinyl silicone rubber.

5. Physical and Mechanical Properties:

• Similar to regular silicone rubber, the mechanical strength (especially tear strength) of sulfur-cured fluorosilicone rubber is relatively low. Improving and enhancing the strength of fluorosilicone rubber is an ongoing research focus.

6. Weather Aging Resistance and Other Properties:

• Fluorosilicone rubber exhibits outstanding weather aging resistance, maintaining excellent performance even after exposure for up to 5 years.

• It displays good resistance to ozone, which is one of the most generated gases during elastomer aging. Dynamic or static tests did not reveal cracking or other issues.

• Fluorosilicone rubber also boasts good resistance to mold, physiological inertness, and anticoagulant properties.

Understanding these characteristics makes fluorosilicone rubber a valuable material in applications where resistance to extreme temperatures, chemicals, and environmental factors is crucial.