Polydimethylsiloxane-silica Composites. Influence of the Silica on the Morphology and the Surface, Thermal, Mechanical Properties

A series of polydimethylsiloxane-silica composites each, with a different silica contents were prepared and investigated by multiple techniques: thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, contact angle measurements, and tensile strength tests, in order to evaluate some microscopic and macroscopic properties. As expected, the results show a dependence of the composites' properties on the silica content and their preparation procedure: in situ or ex situ. Whereas the dependence of the thermal and mechanical properties was expected and emphasized their improvement as the silica content increased, in the case of morphology and surface properties this dependence appeared to be more complex.