Silicone rubber foam materials have shown broad application prospects in many fields due to their unique structures and properties. From lightweight thermal insulation components in aerospace to sound insulation and shock absorption materials in the construction field, the performance of silicone rubber foam materials directly affects their application effects. To meet the diverse performance requirements of silicone rubber foam materials in different application scenarios, researchers are committed to the research on the optimization of preparation processes and performance regulation.

Traditional preparation methods for silicone rubber foams mainly include mechanical foaming and chemical foaming. In the mechanical foaming method, gas is mixed into the silicone rubber matrix through strong stirring to form bubble nuclei, and then the bubbles expand to form a foam structure during the curing process. However, the foam materials prepared by this method have a wide bubble size distribution and poor uniformity. To improve this situation, researchers have introduced ultrasonic-assisted mechanical foaming technology. The cavitation effect of ultrasonic waves can generate a large number of tiny bubble nuclei in the silicone rubber matrix and promote the uniform dispersion of the bubbles. Studies have shown that the silicone rubber foam prepared by ultrasonic-assisted mechanical foaming has a reduced average bubble size and a more concentrated size distribution, and the mechanical properties and thermal insulation properties of the material are significantly improved. For example, for the silicone rubber foam materials used for in-cabin thermal insulation in the aerospace field, after the optimization of this process, the thermal insulation effect is better on the premise of ensuring light weight, which can effectively reduce the temperature fluctuation in the cabin and improve the operational stability of the equipment.
The chemical foaming method utilizes the decomposition of blowing agents in the silicone rubber system to generate gas, thus forming a foam structure. Selecting appropriate blowing agents and controlling their decomposition temperature and rate are the keys to the chemical foaming method. The research and development of new blowing agents have become an important direction for optimizing the chemical foaming process. For example, developing thermosensitive blowing agents with a controllable decomposition temperature range can precisely control the foaming process, enabling the silicone rubber to achieve uniform foaming at the optimal curing stage. At the same time, by adjusting the dosage of the blowing agent and its synergistic effect with other additives, the density, cell structure, and properties of the foam material can be effectively regulated. In the field of building sound insulation, the silicone rubber foam materials prepared by optimizing the chemical foaming process can obtain a structure with a high closed-cell rate and small and uniform cells. This structure gives it excellent sound insulation performance, which can effectively block external noise from entering the room and improve the tranquility of the living environment.
In addition to the optimization of the foaming process, post-treatment technologies are also crucial for the performance regulation of silicone rubber foam materials. Heat treatment is a common post-treatment method. By heat-treating the silicone rubber foam at a specific temperature, the further cross-linking and rearrangement of the molecular chains can be promoted, improving the thermal stability and mechanical properties of the foam material. For example, after appropriate temperature and time of heat treatment, the compression set of the silicone rubber foam is reduced, and it can still maintain good shape stability under long-term pressure, which is suitable for applications with high requirements for the resilience and durability of materials, such as shock absorption for automotive seats and buffer pads for rail transit. In addition, surface treatment technologies such as plasma treatment and coating treatment can improve the surface properties without changing the internal structure of the foam, expanding the application scope. For example, after hydrophobic coating treatment on the surface of the silicone rubber foam material, it can still maintain good thermal insulation performance in a humid environment, and it is suitable for fields such as outdoor building insulation and thermal insulation of ship cabins.


Temperature resistant and flame retardant coated liquid silicone rubber