This study investigates the combined effects of ionizing radiation and thermal treatments on the aging of siloxane foams containing small amounts of carbon nanofibers. Our approach is unique, compared to typical accelerated aging studies that expose the material to thermal and ionizing conditions separately. In the rare cases when both treatments are combined, they are carried out using high gamma dose rates, which may generate inaccurate conclusions. Thus, lifetime predictions require the use of appropriate accelerated aging conditions to fully understand how structural-property relationships may be affected by aging. Consequently, our siloxane foams were exposed to accelerated aging conditions for more than two years, resulting in very low dose rates. In addition, foams were aged under compressive load to evaluate the strength of the porous microstructure. Samples were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic spectroscopy (NMR), Mössbauer, mass spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic spectroscopy (EPR), solvent swelling, imaging techniques, uniaxial compressive load testing and tear testing.

Coupled aging effects in nanofiber-reinforced siloxane foams

256th National Meeting (2018)

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