Effect of gamma radiation and modified CeO₂ on the physico-mechanical properties of silicon rubber nano composites

One of the most significant synthetic functional elastomers is silicone rubber (SR), which has special properties like thermal and chemical resistance, high weathering and oxidation resistance, low-temperature toughness, electrical insulation, and high optical transparency. Elaboration thermal and mechanical capabilities however are needed for the SR's ever-expanding applications. The effect of modified CeO₂ powder loaded in silicon rubber composites on the thermal and mechanical properties was investigated. The impacts of surface modification of CeO₂ powder content on silicon rubber composite characteristics were discussed. Silicon rubber nano composites were prepared by inclusion different concentrations of 2, 5 and 10 p hr of the surface modified cerium oxide. The effect of radiation on the mechanical properties (TS, E %) at different doses was investigated. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of the nano composites was studied. The volume resistivity was also measured. The results indicated that the nano composite contains 5 p hr of CeO₂ and irradiated to 100 kGy has the best properties and it has a wide range of industrial uses as effective thermal and electrical insulating materials