Fluoroelastomers reinforced with carbon nanofibers: A survey on rheological, swelling, mechanical, morphological, and prediction of the thermal degradation kinetic behavior

Fluoroelastomer (FE) reinforced with carbon nanofiber (CNF) (1 and 2 phr) was prepared using an instrumented batch mixer. A property-structure relationship was compared with the compounds containing carbon black (30 phr), neat FE, and hybrid sample (nanofiber + carbon black, 2 phr + 30 phr, respectively). Nanofiber did not improve the mechanical behavior while swelling characteristic was improved as well the initial weight loss by thermogravimetry. The compounds achieve conductive characteristic using only 1 phr. The thermal decomposition of the compounds was carried out using different kinetic approaches in order to establish consistent parameters. It has been shown that the approaches using consistent kinetic parameters can be combined in such a way as to enhance the reliability and quality of each other and consequently the overall kinetic analysis. The limited dispersion with agglomerations seems to be the crucial factor for all analyses evaluated. Finally, the synergism between nanofiber and carbon black for hybrid compound make CNFs very attractive to be used as an additive in the elastomeric composition. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 59:1223-1232 2019. (c) 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers