Effect of nanoclays on high and low temperature degradation of fluoroelastomers

High temperature degradation of a fluoroelastomer and its nanocomposites was carried out from room temperature to 700 °C using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) in nitrogen and oxygen atmospheres. The presence of the unmodified nanoclay enhanced the onset of degradation in both the environments, because of polymer–filler interaction, exfoliation, uniform dispersion and high thermal stability of the layered silicates. In the derivative curve, there was a single T max , indicating one-stage degradation for all the samples. The non-isothermal activation energy of degradation was determined using the Kissinger and the Flynn–Wall–Ozawa methods. The nanocomposites showed higher activation energy than the neat elastomer. The activation energy of degradation, as observed by isothermal kinetics, was 165, 168 and 177 kJ mol −1 for the neat elastomer, modified and unmodified clay filled samples, respectively. Intrinsic viscosity, measured after low temperature ageing (125–175 °C) showed that the viscosity values were higher for the nanocomposites. The mechanism of degradation is discussed.