Beyond Mechanical Limitations: A Millable PDMS-Polyurethane Elastomer Integrating Superior Strength, Wide-Temperature...

Silicone elastomer possesses a variety of excellent and unique properties and is widely used in aerospace, biomedical, and other fields. However, its deficiency in mechanical properties considerably restricts its applications. We report the design and fabrication of millable PDMS-based polyurethane elastomers (MPUAs) that show a considerable improvement in mechanical strength relative to existing commercial silicone elastomers. The tensile strength of MPUAs reaches up to 16.06 MPa, representing a 60% improvement over the traditional silicone elastomer. The elongation at break is measured at 305%, and the tear strength is 48.97 kN/m. Additionally, it also exhibits exceptional properties, including resistance to extreme temperatures (-116∼310 °C), hydrophobicity, oil resistance, fluorescence, and low cytotoxicity. Notably, the tensile strength of MPUAs increases to 33.88 MPa at -60 °C, 200% higher than at room temperature, highlighting its remarkable low-temperature mechanical performance compared with that of extant silicone elastomers. Thus, the MPUAs demonstrate significant potential for a wide range of future applications.