Effect of surface treatment of carbon fibers on the properties of room temperature vulcanized silicone rubber

Room temperature vulcanized (RTV) silicone rubber composites reinforced by short carbon fibers treated by KH550, concentrated nitric acid, and a mixture of concentrated nitric acid and KH550 have been prepared. The effect of varying the method of treatment of the carbon fibers on the properties of the composites was investigated. The composite containing carbon fibers treated by a mixture of concentrated nitric acid and KH550 had the best properties among the resulting composites. The tensile strength and tear strength of this composite were 4.0 MPa and 20.3 kN/m, respectively. The heat resistance of this composite was also improved and the initial decomposition temperature reached 509.3°C. The line ablation rate and mass ablation rate of this composite were 0.148 mm/s and 0.062 g/s, respectively.