Silicone rubber is versatile because of its flexibility and biocompatibility. It also resists radiation and UV light.
Its unique properties make it a valuable component in the aerospace, medical, and electrical industries, where it is used for a wide range of components, including tubing, washers, and gaskets.
Elastostar Rubber Corporation manufactures rubber products made from various quality rubber materials, including silicone rubber.
Table of Contents
Why Silicone Rubber?
Silicone rubber is one of the most popular synthetic rubbers on the market. It comprises silicone, which has been cross-linked with carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen to make cross-linked, silica-reinforced polymers.
Silicone rubber offers distinct advantages over other elastomers, including:
- Environmental Resistance: Silicone rubber is resistant to extreme environmental factors such as UV radiation, open flames, extreme temperatures, and corrosive chemicals.
- Thermal Stability: Silicone rubber will not crack or shrink in extreme temperatures.
- Moisture Sealant: Silicone rubber is water-repellent and malleable, making it an excellent sealant.
- Highly Versatile: Silicone rubber is flexible enough to be molded and shaped to any specifications. You can adjust the formulation to increase or decrease specific characteristics such as flexibility, electrical conductivity, toughness, and flexibility.
- Easy Sterilization: Silicone rubber is a medical-grade material that can withstand extreme temperatures, harsh chemicals, and radiation. Using FDA-regulated sterilization techniques requires exposure, making it valuable for medical use.
- Colour Friendly: Silicone rubber can be coloured before curing, which gives it a vivid, long-lasting color.
- Electrical Properties: Silicone rubber is an excellent electrical insulator. However, adding metal or black can enhance its conductive properties.
- Range of Hardness: Silicone rubber can have different flexibility and hardness levels depending on the application’s purpose.
- Durable and Reliable: Silicone is extremely durable and can retain its form and flexibility even in extreme conditions. This makes it an ideal material for critical applications.
Silicone rubber is a widely used material because of its adaptability to almost any application.
What are the Properties of Silicone Rubber?
Silicone rubber exhibits unique physical, mechanical, and chemical properties that enhance its usefulness, including:
- Flame Retardant: Silicone rubber exhibits high thermal stability.
- Steam Resistant: Silicone rubber’s high thermal stability keeps its form and consistency even under high-temperature steam.
- Food-grade and Medical-grade Ratings: Silicone rubber resists chemicals, heat, and radiation to sterilize food processing equipment and medical equipment. This makes it a good choice for both food-grade materials and medical-grade materials.
- Excellent Compression Set: Silicone rubber has a high compression set and will maintain its shape even under extreme temperatures and repeated compression.
- UV and Radiation Resistance: silicone rubber will not deteriorate with prolonged or repeated exposure to UV or other radiation.
- Rebound and Resilience: Silicone rubber is very flexible depending on its composition. It will return to its original form and configuration after flexing or bending.
- Metal Adhesion: The silicone rubber exhibits excellent adhesion with metals, especially during molding and extrusion processes.
- High Tensile Strength: The tensile strength of silicone rubber varies depending on its formulation and manufacturing process.
- Chemically and biologically: Silicone rubber reacts very well to few biological or chemical agents.
Because of its high resistance, physical resilience, and durability, silicone rubber is ideal for molding rubber components in various environments and temperatures.
What Are The Benefits of Using Silicone for Rubber Products?
- Temperature Resistance of Silicone Rubber
Rubberized silicone is highly valued for its exceptional temperature resistance, allowing it to perform well in extreme heat and cold. Silicone rubber remains stable and flexible, unlike other rubber materials that can crack or become brittle in harsh environments.
This makes it an ideal choice for industries like automotive and electronics, where materials are exposed to wide temperature ranges.
- Durability and Chemical Resistance
One of the biggest advantages of rubber silicone is its strong chemical resistance. Unlike traditional rubbers, it is less likely to degrade when exposed to oils, solvents, or harsh chemicals.
This durability makes silicone perfect for seals, gaskets, and hoses in industrial and chemical processing environments. As part of silicone rubber supplies, these materials are designed to provide long-lasting performance even under harsh conditions.
- Flexibility and Versatility
Silicone rubber materials maintain their flexibility over time, even after repeated use. For creating O-rings, seals, or custom components, silicone is adaptable and can be molded into various shapes. This makes it a versatile rubber material suitable for industries ranging from medical devices to consumer products.
- Weather and UV Resistance
One of the unique features of rubberized silicone is its ability to resist UV light and ozone. Unlike other rubbers that degrade when exposed to sunlight or harsh weather conditions, weather-resistant silicone remains strong and intact.
This makes it perfect for outdoor applications, such as rubber window seals or automotive parts exposed to the elements.
- Electrical Insulation Properties
Another significant benefit of silicone rubber materials is their excellent electrical insulation capabilities. Silicone is a non-conductive material, making it a top choice for electrical components like wires, connectors, and insulating tubing. Silicone rubber supplies ensure safety and performance in electronics and medical devices.
- Non-Toxic and Biocompatible
Silicone rubber is often chosen for its non-toxic and biocompatible properties, making it safe for medical devices, food-grade products, and other sensitive applications. Many types of silicone are FDA-approved, ensuring safety in contact with food and human skin. Rubber silicone products are used in food storage and medical tubing.
- Longevity and Low Maintenance
Silicone rubber materials are known for their longevity and require minimal maintenance. Due to their resistance to wear and environmental factors, rubber silicone products last much longer than traditional rubbers. This results in fewer replacements, lower maintenance costs, and better long-term performance in seals, gaskets, and industrial tubing.
How is Silicone Used in Different Industries?
Silicone rubber products are highly versatile and widely used across multiple industries due to their durability, flexibility, and resistance to extreme conditions.
| Industry | Example Applications |
| Automotive | Window and door seals, weatherproofing, and expansion joints |
| Medical | Tubing, seals, implants, medical-grade silicone products |
| Electronics | Keypads, seals, insulating components, protective covers |
| Food Processing | FDA-approved silicone tubing, gaskets, food-grade seals |
| Construction | Window and door seals, weatherproofing, expansion joints |
Comparing Silicone to Other Rubber Materials
a. Silicone vs. Natural Rubber
Silicone rubber materials handle extreme temperatures and chemicals better than natural rubber. Silicone stays flexible in high and low temperatures, while natural rubber can crack or degrade. Rubber silicone is better for demanding environments like automotive and industrial settings.
b. Silicone vs. Synthetic Rubber
Silicone performs better in extreme heat and cold than synthetic rubber like EPDM. While EPDM is good for UV and weather resistance, silicone rubber materials are preferred for high-performance applications, especially in medical and aerospace industries, due to their durability and chemical resistance.
Types of Silicone Rubber Products Available at Elastostar
| Product Name | Description |
| Silicone Rubber O-Rings | High-purity, non-toxic, and flexible tubing suits sensitive environments like the medical and pharmaceutical industries. It is FDA-approved and resistant to chemicals and extreme temperatures. |
| Platinum Cured Silicone Tubing | High-purity, non-toxic, and flexible tubing suits sensitive environments like the medical and pharmaceutical industries. It is FDA-approved and resistant to chemicals and extreme temperatures. |
| Rubber U-Channel Profiles | The rubber U channel is a durable profile used for edge protection and sealing in the automotive and construction industries. Provide long-lasting protection against moisture and dust. |
| Inflatable Rubber Seals | Flexible seals that inflate to conform to surfaces, creating airtight or watertight seals. Perfect for industrial and medical applications that demand precision sealing. |
| LED Silicone Diffuser Channels | Durable and heat-resistant channels for optimal light diffusion in lighting systems. Suitable for both indoor and outdoor installations. |
Elastostar provides a wide range of silicone rubber products designed for various industries, ensuring high performance, durability, and flexibility.
Whether you need O-rings, tubing, or custom sealing solutions, Elastostar’s products offer reliable solutions for demanding applications.
Custom Silicone Seals from Elastostar
Elastostar is proud to offer the industry’s highest-quality components and rubber parts. We have been a trusted manufacturer of custom and stock tubing and sealing parts for the food and medical industries.
Our advanced facilities and experienced experts can create FDA medical and surgical-grade tubing and other top-quality products made of rubber-based materials, including silicon rubber.
To find out more about our top Silicone Rubber products and solutions, don’t hesitate to contact us now or request a quote today.
Recommended Reads
- Silicone Rubber Frequently Asked Questions
- Advantages & Disadvantages of Silicone Rubber
- Top 5 Commercial Applications of Silicone Rubber Products
Conclusion
Silicone rubber is a highly versatile material known for its durability, flexibility, and resistance to extreme conditions. Its outstanding properties, such as temperature resistance, chemical stability, and biocompatibility, make it ideal for various industries, including automotive, medical, electronics, and food processing.
The extensive selection of silicone rubber products, such as O-rings, tubing, and seals, delivers dependable performance for demanding applications, ensuring they meet the specific requirements of diverse sectors. Adopting silicone rubber materials leads to enhanced efficiency and reliability in your projects.
What are the advantages of silicone rubber?
Silicone rubber offers excellent temperature resistance, chemical stability, and flexibility, making it ideal for high-performance applications. Its durability and ability to resist UV light and ozone suit various environments.
In which industries are silicone rubber products most commonly used?
Silicone rubber products are widely used in automotive, medical, electronics, and food processing industries. At Elastostar Corporation, we cater to these industries by providing specialized silicone solutions that meet stringent performance and safety standards.
Why is silicon used in rubber?
Silicon is used in rubber to create silicone rubber, which enhances the material’s flexibility, durability, and resistance to harsh conditions. Elastostar utilizes high-quality silicone materials to manufacture rubber products that excel in demanding applications across various sectors.
What are the benefits of silicones?
Silicones provide numerous benefits, including flexibility, longevity, and low maintenance requirements. These properties enable silicone products to deliver exceptional performance and reliability in industrial and consumer applications.
What types of silicone rubber products does Elastostar offer?
Elastostar Corporation offers a wide range of silicone rubber products, including O-rings, tubing, seals, and profiles. Each product is engineered to provide optimal performance, ensuring they meet the specific needs of various industries.
