Silicone
Silicone Synthetic Rubber Materials
Strong Performance in the Most Demanding Applications
Silicone, or siloxane, is one of the most commonly used synthetic rubber materials. Silicone refers to a large group of materials that have vinyl methyl silicone (VMQ) as the key ingredient. All silicone is based on a silicon-oxygen bond in structure, and this material outperforms natural rubber in many applications. There are several key categories of silicone:
• Solid Silicone Rubber: A polymer with a high molecular weight and long polymer chains
• Liquid Silicone Rubber: A polymer with low molecular weight and shorter polymer chains
• Room Temperature Vulcanized: Hardness ranges from very soft to medium
While it is part of the synthetic rubber family, silicone can be described as something between a plastic polymer and a synthetic rubber. As such, it has a number of benefits for sealing applications. Silicone is able to retain its flexibility in both extreme heat and extreme cold, and it can perform for a long period of time. To learn more about silicone and its potential use in your application, please reach out to NCS.
Why Choose Silicone for Your Sealing Application?
The Many Benefits of Silicone Rubber
When you need strong performance in a demanding environment, silicone is often a great choice. For example, because it can withstand extreme temperatures, radiation, and the harsh chemicals that are used as part of the FDA-regulated sterilization process, silicone is an ideal medical-grade material. Because of its natural malleability and repellent properties, silicone is also an excellent choice for sealants. The many benefits of silicone compared to natural rubber include:
• Greater heat tolerance
• Increased chemical stability
• Better electrical insulation
• Stronger abrasion resistance
• Resistance to ozone
• Resistance to environmental conditions
• Can withstand and resist harsh weather and atmospheric conditions
• Thermal resistance up to 400° F/205° C
• Cold tolerance down to between -75° F and -65° F/-59° C and -54°C
Silicone can be used in many applications, including those that require moderate water resistance, exposure to diluted salt solutions, animal and vegetable oil and grease, brake fluid, and high molecular weight chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons, as well as many other chemicals. However, silicone should not be used with the following chemicals:
• Superheated water steam (over 250° F/121° C)
• Acids and alkalis
• Trichloroethylene
• Aromatic mineral oil
• Hydrocarbon-based fuels
• Benzene
• Toluene (a type of solvent)