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Oxidative Surface Treatment of Silicone Rubber

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Silicone Surface Science

Part of the book series: Advances in Silicon Science ((ADSS,volume 4))

Abstract

The mechanisms behind the loss and recovery of hydrophobicity of silicone rubber after exposure to oxidative surface treatments, such as UV irradiation, corona or plasma, are presented. Initially, polar groups are introduced into the surface region, mainly in the form of silanol groups. The oxidation then proceeds towards a vitrified silica-like surface layer. The formation of complex buckling patterns, formed by the mechanical stress difference between the silica-like layer and the rubbery bulk opens the way to a wide range of new applications, such as gratings and flexible electronics. The main challenge is to address the hydrophobic recovery process after an oxidative surface treatment. In some applications, such as high-voltage outdoor insulation materials, this recovery is desired but usually it is not. The most common methods of inhibiting hydrophobic recovery are extraction of the silicone rubber to remove extractable oligomers, storage of oxidized silicone rubber in water directly after treatment, or the grafting of polar species onto the oxidized surface.

An erratum to this chapter can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-3876-8_14

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fibre and Polymer Technology, School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Royal Institute of Technology, 100 44, Stockholm, Sweden

    Henrik Hillborg & Ulf W. Gedde

  2. Corporate Research, ABB AB, 72178, Västerås, Sweden

    Henrik Hillborg

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  1. Henrik Hillborg
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  2. Ulf W. Gedde
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Correspondence to Henrik Hillborg .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Michigan Molecular Institute, Midland, M, West Saint Andrews Road 1505, Midland, 48640, Michigan, USA

    Michael J. Owen

  2. Michigan Molecular Institute, Midland, M, St. Mary’s Dr. 2806, Midland, 48640, Michigan, USA

    Petar R. Dvornic

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Hillborg, H., Gedde, U.W. (2012). Oxidative Surface Treatment of Silicone Rubber. In: Owen, M., Dvornic, P. (eds) Silicone Surface Science. Advances in Silicon Science, vol 4. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-3876-8_11

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