Effect of magnetic field treatment on properties of thermosetting polymers and their composites

Magnetic phenomenon is one of the most fundamental phenomena of substances. All substances have strong or weak magnetic property, and have different responds to external magnetic field. In this study, the effect of the magnetic field applied during the cross-linking process of polyethylene (PE) and the vulcanization (or cure) process of silicone rubber (SIR) and epoxy resin (EP) and their composites on the properties of polymer materials is explored. Experimental results show that the magnetic field treatment can accelerate the cross-linking or vulcanization (or cure) of cross-linked PE (XLPE), SIR and EP, and change the arrangement and the spatial network structure of these polymer molecules. Moreover, the magnetic field treatment can increase the volume electrical resistivity of the prepared thermosetting polymers and lead to a change in the dielectric properties of thermosetting polymer-based composites. The change extent and trend of dielectric properties depend on the properties of each component in system.