1. Introduction of silicone masterbatch in TPE materials
Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) is a polymer material that combines rubber elasticity and plastic processability, widely used in fields such as automotive, construction, medical, and consumer goods.
However, TPE often faces the problem of insufficient lubricity during processing, resulting in reduced processing efficiency and limited product performance. The application research of silicone mb as an efficient lubricant in TPE is of great significance for improving material processability and enhancing product performance.
2. Characteristics of silicone masterbatch
Silicone masterbatch is a granular material composed of ultra-high molecular weight polydimethylsiloxane mixed with a plastic carrier. It has the following characteristics:
Excellent thermal stability: does not decompose or evaporate under high temperature processing conditions.
Good lubricity: reduces friction within the material and between the material and processing equipment.
Enhanced dispersibility: uniformly dispersed in TPE matrix, improving overall material performance.
Environmental safety: non-toxic, non corrosive equipment, non polluting products.
The influence of silicone masterbatch on the lubricity of TPE
Improve processing performance
The addition of silicone masterbatch significantly reduces the torque of TPE materials during processing, reduces energy consumption, and improves production efficiency.
Experiments have shown that adding an appropriate amount of silicone masterbatch (such as 0.5%) can achieve the best lubrication effect, with a 2.5% decrease in equilibrium torque and an 11.9% increase in melt mass flow rate.
Balance of mechanical properties
Although the addition of silicone mb may slightly reduce the tensile and bending strength of TPE, it can also enhance the impact strength of the material. Adding an appropriate amount of silicone masterbatch (not exceeding 0.5%) can maintain the mechanical properties of the material, with a tensile strength and bending strength retention rate of over 93%.
Improvement of wear resistance
The addition of silicone mb significantly improves the wear resistance of TPE materials. Research has shown that when the content of silicone masterbatch reaches 5%, the wear of composite materials decreases by 90.7%, providing new possibilities for TPE in high wear resistant applications.
3. Exploration of Silicone masterbatch
The application of silicone mb in TPE is not limited to improving lubricity, but also provides new ideas for developing TPE materials with self-healing properties. Through dynamic non covalent interactions, silicone masterbatch may promote the formation of physical network structure in TPE, endowing the material with self-healing ability.
Collaborative flame retardant effect
When silicone masterbatch is mixed with other flame retardants, it can improve the flame retardant effect of the material, promote the formation of carbon layer, and effectively prevent the formation of smoke and the spread of flames.
Conclusion and Prospect
Silicone mb, as a lubricant modifier for TPE elastic materials, can not only effectively improve the processing performance and wear resistance of the material, but also provide a new direction for the development of TPE materials with self-healing properties and synergistic flame retardant effects while maintaining mechanical properties.
Future research should further explore the optimized application of silicone mb in different TPE systems, as well as its long-term impact on material properties, in order to achieve more efficient and environmentally friendly TPE material processing and application.