Silicone is one of the materials of choice for any application that deals with environmental factors that can break down other solutions. When it comes to extreme temperature, silicone rubber offers a great range of resistance in both hot and cold environments. In addition, silicone provides far superior tensile strength, elongation, tear strength, and compression sets in extreme temperatures than conventional rubbers.
In addition to temperature resistance, other advantages of silicone rubber include insulation from electricity, compression set resistance, and the ability to repel water. These advantages make silicone rubber a versatile material that can help businesses invest in rubber products that not only withstand difficult conditions, but also perform as necessary for a long time. Because of these factors, Seehope regularly provides businesses with silicone industrial parts like keypads, gaskets, o-rings, etc. and consumer products like watch bands, household goods, baby products etc.
Silicone Properties
- Common Name: Silicone
- ASTM D-2000 Classification: FC, FE, GE
- Chemical Definition: Polysiloxane
- Temperature Range
- Low Temperature Usage: -60° to -150° F | -50°C to -100°C
- High Temperature Usage: Up to 480° F | Up to 250°C
- Tensile Strength
- Tensile Range: 200-1500 P.S.I.
- Elongation: 700% Maximum
- Durometer (Hardness) – Range: 30-90 Shore A
- Resistances
- Abrasion Resistance: Fair to Poor
- Tear Resistance: Poor
- Solvent Resistance: Poor
- Oil Resistance: Fair to Poor
- Aging Weather – Sunlight: Excellent
- General Characteristics
- Adhesion to Metals: Good
- Compression Set: Good
- Resilience/Rebound: Good
Silicone Applications
Automotive
- Sound and vibration dampening in automotive drive shafts
- Shaft sealing rings
- O-rings
- Window and door seals
Consumer
- Kitchenware
- Baby products
- Watch bands / straps
Electrical
- Wire and cable jacketing
- Electrical safety stinger covers
- Conductive profiled silicone seals
Silicone Benefits and Advantages
- Withstands high and low temperatures far better than organic rubber
- Good thermal stability
- Certain silicone compounds can withstand long-term, continuous use even at 200°C (392°F), while others may be able to withstand higher temperatures for short periods of use
- Repels water and forms tight seals
- Excellent electrical insulation, with no decline in insulation performance even when immersed in water
- Carbon black additives can further increase silicone’s electrical conductivity
- Flexible at low temperatures, stiffens up at higher temperatures
- Under ordinary pressure, contact with steam typically causes little or no deterioration
- Flame retardant with additives, with some products receiving UL94 V-0 certification according to the UL94 (USA) standards for flammability classification
- Low chemical reactivity
- Can be compounded in different ways to meet any number of applications (die cutting, injection molding, extrusion)
- Can be custom cut to length for various production part needs
- Fillers can improve tensile strength to roughly 1,500 PSA and tear resistance up to 200 lbs.
We have been producing silicone consumer products for various markets like watch bands, protective case, baby products, household goods etc. I believe Seehope is your #1 source for silicone products. Please click here to view some of products we made or contact us for more information.
