Silicone rubber is the most important application field of fumed silica.
Fumed silica provides an indispensable reinforcing effect of silicone rubber：
1. Endowing strength and elasticity:
Unfilled silicone rubber itself has very low strength (raw rubber has extremely poor strength), cannot form a stable structure, and is even less capable of foaming. The nanoscale particles of fumed silica and their unique chain/dendritic aggregate structure can deeply penetrate into the molecular chain network of silicone rubber. Through physical entanglement and the interaction between surface silanol groups and silicone rubber molecules (hydrogen bonds, van der Waals forces), a powerful three-dimensional network structure is formed.
2.Enhance mechanical properties: Significantly increase the tensile strength, tear strength, resilience and wear resistance of foam boards. Without sufficient fumed silica, the foam board will be extremely fragile, easily torn apart and lacking practical value.