The Silicone Rubber (SR) Composites: The Assessment of Changes in Hardness, Thermal Properties and Surface Quality Materials After Accelerated Aging Process

In this paper, the accelerated aging process of a layer of polymer composites based on the silicone rubber modified by plant-based fillers and iron carbonyl was investigated. The color change, Shore’s hardness, thermal resistance, and surface quality of the composites after weathering were tested. The degradation behavior of the silicone rubber and its composites was characterized by TGA and FTIR techniques, as well as optical microscopy. It was found that the aging process increased the hardness of the silicone rubber composites by approx. 10% compared to pure silicone, and by a further 10% by weight in the case of composites containing plant-based fillers, such as turmeric and goldenrod. The promising results indicate that a SR/CLP/Fe/AM composite modified with carbonyl iron and a surfactant acts as an effective stabilizer for the silicone rubber matrix. An increase in the maximum temperature of 40 °C was also recorded compared to the unmodified silicone rubber. The results showed that the surface color of the aged samples changed in terms of lightness and total color. It was found that silicone rubber composites containing plant-based fillers exhibit properties characteristic of age-resistant materials; in particular, the SR/CLP/Fe composites modified with carbonyl iron are more resistant to water and light during accelerated aging than unmodified silicone rubber, which ensures a longer service life.