Chlorosulphonated Polyethylene and Its Composites for Electronic Applications

Abstract

Chlorosulphonated polyethylene (CSM) occupies an emerging field due to its immense flexibility, excellent heat resistance, excellent oil resistance as well as water resistance, good flame resistance and weathering resistance, and desirable compression set. Generally, this rubber contains 27–45 % chlorine and very nominal sulphur content (approximately 0.8–2.2 %). The enormous improvement in physical, mechanical, and dielectric properties as well as electrical and thermal conductivity of the entire CSM rubber composites is due to the addition of the particulate fillers including conductive fillers. The physico-mechanical behaviour of the composites is quite captivating with respect to other rubber composites in a wide temperature range viz. −80 to 160 °C. It can be used in low-voltage applications in cables where dielectric strength is 500 V/mil with dielectric constant 8−10 at 1000 Hz and dissipation factor in the range of 0.05–0.07 at 1000 Hz. CSM is widely practiced in exteriors or outer protective jackets in high-voltage applications due to its outstanding weather-resistant property. Meanwhile, CSM is also widely applied in the fabrication of composites to minimize the effect of radiation pollution emitting uncontrollably from electronic devices. CSM can uptake desirable amount of conducting filler for enrichment or improvement of the conductivity solely to the composites. It is not a hard and fast rule to make the composite highly conducting to inhibit radiation. It is required a conducting pathway to make the composite conducting that can interacts with the electromagnetic wave and reduce its adverse effect. Here, the basic three types of mechanisms of radiation shielding are elucidated to culminate the development of CSM rubber-based electromagnetic interference (EMI)/radiation shielding materials with sufficient flexibility, weather resistance, and chemical resistance features.