Property improvement of room temperature vulcanized silicone elastomer by surface-modified multi-walled carbon nanotube inclusion

• Surface modification of MWCNTs is crucial for property improvement of RTV silicone rubber composites.
• Well dispersion of MWCNTs treated by polydimethylsiloxane solution in silicone rubber was achieved.
• Properties of silicone rubber were improved by using polydimethylsiloxane solution modified MWCNTs.

Room temperature vulcanized (RTV) silicone rubber composites reinforced by multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were prepared. The effect of surface modification methods and MWCNT contents on the properties of the RTV silicone rubber composites was investigated. The properties of the composites were improved when the treated MWCNTs were used. After treated by polyester-modified polydimethylsiloxane solution (BKY-310), the MWCNTs were uniformly dispersed in the silicone rubber matrix. When 5 phr of MWCNTs was added, the composite achieved good comprehensive performance. Its tensile strength, tear strength, elongation and onset decomposition temperature reach 2.0 MPa, 11.7 kN/m, 238% and 510 °C, respectively. But the above said values for the composite with untreated MWCNTs are only 1.1 MPa, 7.0 kN/m, 83% and 484 °C, respectively.