Thermal Stability and Kinetics of the Thermal Degradation of Thermal Conductive Silicone Rubber Filled with Al2O3 and ZnO
The kinetics of the thermal degradation and thermal stability of thermal conductive silicone rubber filled with Al2O3 and ZnO were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis in a flowing nitrogen atmosphere at a heating rate of 10°C/min. The rate parameters were evaluated by the method of Freeman–Carroll. The results show that the thermal degradation of silicone rubber begins at about 350°C and ends at about 600°C. The thermal degradation is multistage, in which zero-order reactions are principal. The kinetics of the thermal degradation of thermal conductive silicone rubber has relevance to its loading of thermal conductive filler. The activation energies are temperature-sensitive and their sensitivity to temperature becomes weak as temperature increases.