Silicone Rubber is a polymer made up of siloxane (−R2Si−O−SiR2−, where R = organic rubber). It is a heat-resistant inert synthetic compound that comes in a variety of forms (oil, rubber, resin). Technically, it could be considered a part of the rubber family. But, if you define plastics widely, silicone is something of a hybrid between synthetic rubber and a synthetic plastic polymer.
Silicone can be used to make malleable rubber items including, sealants, adhesives, medicine, cooking utensils, thermal insulation, lubricants, electrical insulation hard resins, Iron Rest Pads, Extrusions Profiles, and spreadable fluids. Silicone is a highly versatile material valued for its flexibility, biocompatibility, and resistance to temperatures, UV light, radiation, and ozone.
Advantages of Silicone Rubber
Silicone rubber is a common sealing material for a wide range of industrial applications including automotive, medical, electronics, aerospace, and more. Here we are sharing some advantages of silicone rubber:
- Heat Resistance: Silicone Rubber is a high heat & temperature resistance product. Some of its compounds are able to withstand up to 305 °C temperatures, not only high temperatures it can extend to low temperatures too, which means this synthetic rubber can maintain its flexibility even at -100°C.
- High-Performing Rubber: It’s known for its very durability, good mechanical properties, suitability and flexibility in low compression sets of extreme heat or cold. And extremely reliable and trusted to keep up performance for a long time.
- Environmental Resistance: It exhibits a high level of environmental factors resistance, including UV radiation, open flames, extreme temperatures, and corrosive chemicals.
Also Read: What causes Rubber to Deteriorate?
- Thermal stability: Silicone is able to retain its shape, size, durability, flexibility in extreme hot or cold temperatures.
- Moisture Sealant: It is a best suitable product for water repellent and malleable, which makes it an excellent sealant.
- Highly Versatile: Silicone rubber has a capacity to be molded and shaped in any form to meet even the most detailed specifications. That formulation can be adjusted to downplay or enhance characteristics, such as flexibility, toughness and electrical conductivity.
- Color Friendly: Silicone rubber can be molded in any color, because it has color prior to the curing process, so it exhibits a lasting, vivid shade.
- Electrical properties: Silicone rubber products are an excellent electrical insulator, however the addition of metal or carbon black can improve its conductive properties.
- Range of Hardness: Silicone rubber has the ability to be formulated to exhibit different ranges of flexibility and hardness, depending on the needs of your application.
Disadvantages of Silicone Rubber
- Tear strength: Silicone rubber has a poor tear strength, it’s the major disadvantage of it. This issue can be improved by adding some other ingredients, but it doesn’t naturally offer strength or abrasion resistance.
- High Cost: It is a premium product similarly it has premium cost as compared to other rubber materials. It can be improved by some quality control. But as we all know every product cost is decided by its quality and adding components. So, you can contact our technician experts / specialists. They will help you to understand it.
Custom Silicone Seals From Kesaria Rubber Industries
Kesaria Rubber Industries pride itself as a high-quality custom molded rubber, TPE, PTFE parts and components providing company for more than 32 years. We have a team of more than 500 well-skilled people. They are working to provide the best quality rubber sealing product at a competitive price. If you are looking for custom molded parts for your application feel free to contact our experts here.