Effect of glass frit with low softening temperature on the properties, microstructure and formation mechanism of polysiloxane elastomer-based ceramizable composites

Abstract The glass frit with low softening temperature, acting as one of the fluxing agents, is a key material to determine the microstructure of polysiloxane elastomer-based ceramizable composites. The effect of the glass frit with the softening temperature of 480 °C on the properties of the ceramic polysiloxane elastomer was investigated. The appearance of the ceramic residues was observed by a digital camera. The morphology of the impact fracture surface was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The ceramic mechanism of the ceramic residue was revealed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The results showed that the linear shrinkage, as well as flexural strength and impact strength of the ceramic residue increased as the content of the glass frit increased from 0 to 30phr. SEM analysis showed that the structure of the ceramic residue was converted from sea-island phase to a uniform matrix with the increased content of the glass frit. XRD analysis showed that quartz and MgSiO 3 crystals were generated in the ceramic residues via the eutectic reaction between the mica and the glass frit.