Enhancement of Surface Wettability of Abhesive Silicone Rubber by Oxidation

TLDR: In this article, a method to detect surface oxidation of an otherwise untreated, cross-linked and filled silicone rubber is described, based on the principle that surface wettability increases during the progress of oxidation.

Abstract: A new method to detect surface oxidation of an otherwise untreated, cross-linked and filled silicone rubber is described. Our method is established on the principle that surface wettability increases during the progress of oxidation. Surface wettability is determined in terms of critical surface tension. Abhesive polymers, of which silicone rubber is a typical example, are characterized by low surface energy, low friction coefficient and low release value. The problem associated with silicone rubber is its poor adhesion to other polymers. Its adhesional ability, however, can be improved by surface modification, e.g. oxidation, treatment with corona discharge, or ionic bombardment with inert gases. By our method we found that the oxidation of silicone rubber is comparatively mild below 260°C, but is intensified at 287°C. Excessive oxidation at 316°C results in the formation of low molecular weight siloxanes which lower the wettability of the oxidized surface. Mechanisms of thermal oxidation are di...