Well, wonder no longer – we’ve got the answers for you! In this deep dive on silicone rubber we’ll go over:
- What is Silicone Rubber?
- What are the properties of silicone rubbers?
- What Are the Applications of Silicone Rubber?
- Is silicone rubber toxic?
- Are silicone rubbers recyclable?
After we’ve covered the essentials, we’ll also answer some of the most common questions people ask about silicone rubber.
Ready? Let’s go!
What is Silicone Rubber?
Silicone rubber is a synthetic elastomer initially made by a remarkable discovery in the early 20th century. American chemist James Franklin Hyde polymerized siloxane into a rubbery material. The result? A flexible and durable substance known as silicone rubber.
Today, silicone rubber is a highly manufactured synthetic elastomer. It’s widely used because it's heat-resistant and flexible.
Many people think that silicone rubber is a thermosetting plastic, but it’s actually a thermoplastic elastomer. What does that mean?
When heated, thermoplastic elastomers like silicone rubber can be remodeled without causing a chemical change.
On the other hand, thermosetting plastics such as epoxy resin can be heated but when they take a certain form, they’re set for good.
What are the properties of silicone rubbers?
Silicone rubber possesses unique properties that make it suitable for many uses.
The properties of silicone rubber include:
- High temperature resistance: Silicone rubber can withstand temperatures ranging from -60°C to 230°C.
- Chemical resistance: Resistant to many chemicals, including acids, bases, and solvents.
- Insulator: Silicone rubber doesn't conduct electricity, making it great for electrical insulation.
- Softness: Silicone rubber maintains flexibility and elasticity even at low temperatures.
- Biocompatibility: Non-toxic and safe for medical and food applications.
Now, let’s explore its benefits.
Benefits of Silicone Rubber
Lauded for its versatility, there are a lot of good things to say about silicone rubber. These are some of the main ones.
High and low temperature resistance
With a solid performance across a wide temperature range, silicone rubber is a great choice for various applications. In seals, silicone rubber is often chosen over other materials because it maintains its properties in extreme temperatures.
It’s also easily available and widely produced because it retains its flexibility and stability over a wide temperature range.
Durability
Silicone rubber is lightweight but long-lasting. The average silicone rubber product can last about 20 years.
It’s resistant to degradation, chemicals, and weathering. It’s very durable, making for excellent use in automotive, medical, and kitchen applications.
Weather resistance
Weather resistance is the ability to withstand environmental factors without degrading.
Because of the stable structure of silicone rubber, it doesn’t break down easily. The degradation rate of silicone rubber is significantly lower than that of natural rubber.
Safety
Silicone rubber functions as an excellent insulator and is non-toxic, making it good for medical and food-grade applications.
Transparency and dyeability
As a versatile material, silicone rubber can be transparent or dyed any color. Why? Because it has a unique chemical structure that allows for easy pigmentation.
The ability to be dyed measures the versatility of silicone rubber in aesthetic applications.
If the material can be dyed, it’s highly versatile for various designs. Silicone rubber’s dyeability is excellent – highly versatile for different designs.
Disadvantages of Silicone Rubber
Not all that glitters is gold, and silicone rubber is no exception. There are some downsides to the use of this material, which include:
Costly
Silicone rubber is more expensive than many other elastomers, making it a less economical choice for certain applications. The high production costs contribute to its overall price, limiting its usage in cost-sensitive projects.
Note: However, at our company, we strive to offer competitive pricing for our silicone rubber products without compromising on quality.
Poor tear resistance
Despite its many benefits, silicone rubber has poor tear resistance. This characteristic makes it unsuitable for applications where the material might be subjected to high levels of mechanical stress.
Mechanical stress can lead to the material tearing more easily compared to other rubbers, thereby reducing its lifespan and reliability in demanding environments.
What Are the Applications of Silicone Rubber?
Silicone rubber's versatility makes it common in the production of many items ranging from kitchenware to medical devices and even in automotive and aerospace industries. Here’s a quick run-down of some silicone rubber products.
Non-stick bakeware
Silicone bakeware is safe for oven use
Baking can be a sticky situation — until you use silicone bakeware.
Silicone non-stick bakeware is the best solution to this problem. Brands like Silpat offer top-notch silicone mats that are free of harmful chemicals and resistant to high temperatures. This means that when you bake on them, they don’t warp but rather provide a consistent, non-stick surface for years.
Silicone rubber often gets a bad rap for staining or emitting odors. Our bakeware is different. They’re made with stringent quality controls and engineered to maintain their integrity under extreme conditions.
Medical devices
Silicone rubber is favored in medical applications and used in implants, tubing, and seals. It has steadily been replacing other materials like latex and PVC in many healthcare applications.
Why?
Because silicone rubber is:
- Biocompatible
- Flexible
- Sterilizable
- Durable
- Chemically stable
- Non-reactive
- Resistant to extreme temperatures
Basically, it’s perfect for medical applications.
Automotive and aerospace
Silicone rubber is a thermal insulator, making it ideal for use in automotive and aerospace components. Seals, gaskets, and hoses cannot be exposed to extreme temperatures and chemicals without degradation. For example, if you were using a standard rubber gasket in a car engine, it might fail under high heat.
Silicone rubber gaskets protect automotive parts and are strong enough to withstand temperature extremes and chemical exposure for many years.
Electrical insulation
Thanks to silicone rubber’s dielectric properties and thermal stability, silicone rubber insulators don’t degrade and are resistant to weathering. You’ll see silicone rubber used for everything from insulator boots and connectors to flexible circuit boards and keypads.
Silicone rubber used in electrical insulation, automotive, and bakeware
Also, these insulators are unlikely to fail because of the material’s high resilience.
Consumer goods
You’ll find silicone rubber in everything from baby bottle nipples to swimming gear because it’s flexible and safe. The nipples that help feed infants? Probably made from silicone rubber. The swim caps you use? Also silicone rubber.
Healthcare
In healthcare, silicone rubber is a lifesaver (literally). It’s used to make catheters, prosthetics, hearing aids, and many other tools that have become essential in medicine.
Medical supplies are made from silicone rubber as well as kitchenware and bakeware
Along with flexibility and durability, silicone rubber products have been a great support for healthcare because they can be sterilized and then reused.
Construction
Silicone rubber is used for sealing and insulating in construction. Its resistance to moisture, UV rays, and extreme temperatures makes it ideal for applications like window and door seals, roof repair, and glazing.
Thanks to silicone rubber’s durability, these seals can last for many years.
Is silicone rubber toxic?
Silicone rubber is usually considered safe for humans. It is considered one of the safest synthetic materials; it is a durable heat-resistant substance. Because of its high heat tolerance, it is unlikely to degrade or release harmful substances even when exposed to warm or hot temperatures. It is approved for use with food and medical applications. It can be re-used safely and withstands frequent use with hot items.
Are silicone rubbers recyclable?
We won’t lie to you – it's not straightforward to recycle silicone rubbers. During their production, use, and disposal, silicone rubbers can present challenges for environmental sustainability. They are not commonly recycled, often ending up as regular waste, which is detrimental to the environment.
The recycling process for silicone rubbers is not widespread. This can result in significant environmental impact as these products are disposed of in landfills.
That being said, there are ways to make silicone rubbers more environmentally friendly, such as reducing their usage, opting for sustainable alternatives, and ensuring that products made from silicone rubbers have a long lifespan to mitigate environmental impact.