Effect of Environmental Stress on Sylgard (Trade Name) 170 Silicone Elastomer.

摘要

Dow Corning Sylgard 170 Silicone Elastomer has been investigated to characterize its response to accelerated thermal aging, radiation exposure, and its behavior under applied compressive forces. Sylgard 170 response to accelerated thermal aging suggests the material properties are not particularly age dependent. Radiation exposures, however, produce significant, monotonic changes in both elongation and hardness with increasing absorbed radiation dose. Elastomer response to an applied compressive force was strongly dependent on environment temperature and degree of material confinement. Variations in temperature produced large changes in compressive forces applied to confined samples. Attempts to mitigate force fluctuations by means of pressure relief paths resulted in total loss of the applied compressive force. Thus, seal applications employing this elastomer in Class 1E equipment required to function during or following an accident should consider the potential loss of compressive force from long-term aging and potential LOCA-temperature transient conditions.