Résumé
This paper explores the structure-relationships involved in the degradation of fluorosilicones (FVMQs). For that purpose, FVMQs were thermally aged at 280°C under various atmospheres (nitrogen, atmospheric air, pure oxygen). It seems that FVMQs undergo a strong mass loss irrespectively of the atmosphere. Under nitrogen, a chain scission (unzipping) mechanism is suspected whereas under air, a crosslinking mechanisms leads to an increase in tensile modulus. A degradation mechanism is proposed as a basis for lifetime prediction.