Thermal Stability and Kinetics of the Thermal Degradation of Thermal Conductive Silicone Rubber Filled with Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> and ZnO

Abstract

The kinetics of the thermal degradation and thermal stability of thermal conductive silicone rubber filled with Al2O3 and ZnO were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis in a flowing nitrogen atmosphere at a heating rate of 10°C/min. The rate parameters were evaluated by the method of Freeman–Carroll. The results show that the thermal degradation of silicone rubber begins at about 350°C and ends at about 600°C. The thermal degradation is multistage, in which zero-order reactions are principal. The kinetics of the thermal degradation of thermal conductive silicone rubber has relevance to its loading of thermal conductive filler. The activation energies are temperature-sensitive and their sensitivity to temperature becomes weak as temperature increases.