Silicone
Being a member of polymers, silicone material, which is also called polysiloxane, is produced from siloxane, which has a chemical linkage of -R2Si-O-SiR2- where R denotes the organic group. Silicone is a colorless material that looks similar to oils and rubber-like materials.
Features & Applications
Features
- Shows low thermal conductivity.
- Shows low chemical reactivity.
- Shows low toxicity.
- Shows heat consistency and retains its properties in a temperature range between −100°C and 250°C (between −148°F and 482°F).
- Repels water and can be used as watertight seals.
- Although it does not stick to many physical layers, it can adhere to several of them such as glass.
- Does not provide a suitable environment for microbiological development.
- Shows good resistance to ultraviolet (UV) rays, oxygen, and ozone.
Applications
- Automotive
- Sound and vibration dampening in automotive drive shafts
- Shaft sealing rings
- O-rings
- Window and door seals
- HVAC
- Square, kink-free tubing
- High-temperature gaskets
- O-rings
- Electrical
- Wire and cable jacketing
- Electrical safety stinger covers
- Conductive profiled silicone seals
Machining Options
Other Information
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
ADVANTAGES OF SILICONE
- Shows much better thermal resistance to low and high temperatures compared to natural rubber.
- Shows good thermal consistency
- While several types of silicone compounds withstand long-term continuous operation at high temperatures even 200°C (392°F), some of them can withstand short-term continuous operation at higher temperatures.
- Shows water repellent characteristics, thus can be used in watertight sealing.
- Provides excellent electrical insulation and retains its insulation property under humid conditions even when it is immersed into the water.
- Carbon black addition to the compound tends to improve the electrical conductivity of the silicone.
- While it is flexible at low temperatures, its flexibility degrades at higher temperatures and gets stiffen.
- The steam usually causes no or very little deterioration under normal pressure,
- Can be a flame retardant material when compounded with certain additives (several products with UL94 V-0 certification in accordance with the UL94 (USA) standards on flammability classifications of the materials)
- Shows low chemical reactivity
- Suitable to be compounded with various compositions and methods to meet requirements of various applications.
- Fillers can be used as an additive to improve tensile strength up to 1,500 PSA and tear resistance up to 200 lbs (91 kg).
