Thermoplastic vulcanizate based on poly(vinylidene fluoride) and methyl vinyl silicone rubber by using fluorosilicone rubber as interfacial compatibilizer

To successfully fabricate a thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) based on poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and high loading level of methylvinyl silicone rubber (MVSR), stabilizing the phase structure during blending is a challenge due to the distinct interface properties of the two materials. Herein, we report a feasible method to fabricate a desired PVDF/MVSRTPV by using fluorosilicone rubber (FSR) as an interfacial compatibilizer. We found that the FSR was self-assembly migrated from MVSR phase toward PVDF phase and finally located at the interface between PVDF and MVSR, forming core-shell-like spherical particles with a rough surface, and surprisingly, the crosslinked rubber particles were connected by fiber-like elastomeric materials which bonded onto the surfaces of the particles. The excellent property of repeat processing of the PVDF/MVSR/FSR TPV with such novel phase morphology makes it a potential alternative of fluorosilicone rubber in future. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.