Reinforcing Zirconia Particles Precipitated into an Elastomeric Material

Abstract

Abstract Particles of ZrO2 were precipitated into a polysiloxane elastomer by the hydrolysis of zirconium n-propoxide, using NH4OH or HCI as catalyst. Transmission electron micrographs of the resulting in-situ filled elastomers indicated that the particle diameters were similar to those obtained in silica precipitations, but with broader distributions of particle size. Stress-strain isotherms obtained on the elastomers in elongation showed that the particles obtained from either catalyst gave good reinforcement, but those prepared using HCI gave larger increases in ultimate strength and higher maximum extensibilities.