Silicones: Rubber September 2004

Bringing Color and Performance to Life

From tubing to tires and cake pans to keypads,

silicone rubber is integral to many manufacturing and
production processes.
A unique synthetic elastomer, silicone offers professionals the options they need for creative and innovative
design and engineering. It is easy to formulate, easy to manufacture, applicable to most trades and
available in varying colors and hardness.

Efficiency Reliability
Silicone rubber is extraordinarily versatile and convenient and offers Silicone rubber is reliable and cost-effective. It is the preferred choice
processors a wealth of design opportunities. Silicone rubber flows in many high-end processing and manufacturing applications that
easily and can be molded, pressed or extruded using relatively low require quality, cost-effective production. Because it comes in a
amounts of energy, simplifying production. Rubber formulations resist variety of formulations for curing, molding and manufacturing, it helps
temperatures and chemicals, and the fast curing properties maximize businesses streamline their processing while ensuring consistent
productivity in industrial packaging and assembly. Professionals can quality production. Silicone rubber products do not produce un-
use a ready-to-process compound to make an end-product or they wanted odor or byproduct and are hypoallergenic. Since these
can combine the compound with others for a particular product with products are easy to clean, they do not require harsh, damaging
complicated technical requirements. solvents that can pollute the air or water.

Silicone rubbers are indispensable in sophisticated, high-tech

applications and have an increasing number of applications for new
markets. Used with the right technologies, silicone rubber provides
innovative manufacturing solutions, particularly when it comes to
streamlining automated production, for example, in industrial mold
making. Industries that benefit from silicone rubbers include:

• Automotive and transportation (including aerospace and aviation)

• Mechanical engineering and chemical engineering
• Electrical equipment
• Cable
• Household goods
• Medical devices
Performance, Protection, Versatility & Lifestyle page 02
Silicones are revolutionizing our present and shaping our future

Performance
Processors, manufacturers and craftspeople have sophisticated • Tires – Silicone enhanced low rolling resistance tires have an equal
needs that require rubber that is easy to cure, easy to manufacture, wear life compared to conventional, carbon black-rubber filled tires
cost-effective and of a consistent quality. Silicone rubber outperforms but have reduced fuel consumption and superior traction.
many other organic elastomers and is distinguished by its wide range
of complementary physical, mechanical and chemical properties: • Radiators, heat exchangers and water-pump gaskets – These
• High - and low-temperature stability and compression resistance products benefit from rubber that transports anti freeze rubbers
• Flexibility without a corroding effect.
• Tear strength
• Long-term tensile strength and elongation properties • Cylinder head gaskets, engine covers, valve covers, oil pumps
• Inertness – no taste, smell or unwanted byproduct or oil pans – These products benefit from oil-resistant and heat-
released in production conductive silicone rubbers that help with heat dissipation.
• Translucent and easy to color
• Varying degrees of softness and hardness
• Chemical resistant Aviation and Aerospace
• Weathering and aging resistance
Extreme temperature resistance, stability with extreme environmental
• Ozone and oxidation resistance
and chemical stress and durability are some of the many reasons
• Exceptional sealing and bonding properties
silicone rubber benefits aviation and aerospace. Silicone rubber
• Excellent insulation properties
sealants fasten interior and exterior doors, windows and paneling.
• Flame resistance
Fluid resistance makes rubber ideal for fuel control diaphragms,
• Fungus resistance – poor growth medium for mold and fungus in
hydraulic lines and cable clamp blocks. Silicone rubber keypads are
warm, damp environments
even used in computers on earth and in space.
• Resilience and damping factor
• Can modify coefficient of friction (friction between two materials)
as needed

Typical Applications
Many industries have embraced silicone rubber and its technology
and continue to discover new applications to meet their market
demands. Some applications are discussed below.

Automotive Industry
Silicone rubber is used in virtually every aspect of the automotive
industry. Excellent electrical insulation properties, heat and chemical
resistance, weatherability, adhesive properties and tear strength are
but a few of the key properties that make silicone rubber particularly Bakeware and Cookware
useful for automotive manufacturers and component suppliers. Bakeware is sturdier, convenient, easy to use and long-lasting when
made with silicone rubber. The flexible, non-stick surface is easy to
clean and does not impart any flavor or odor. Materials can go from
Examples of Applications: the freezer to the oven, microwave or dish-washer without affecting
• Sealants – Self-lubricating silicone rubbers create strong, durable, the quality of the product or the food. Products enhanced with
airtight seals for everything from headlamps to oil filters. silicone rubber include:

• Gaskets – Silicone rubber forms a leak-proof and durable seal that

• Baking mats
will not crack or split under extreme pressures and temperatures.
• Baking molds

• Connectors – Silicones protect electrical connections, including • Cake pans

electrical plug-and-socket connections, against moisture • Flexible bakeware
and corrosion. • Garlic peelers
• Ice cube molds
• Spark Plugs – Crucial to optimum ignition, silicone rubber provides
• Pan and gadgets holders
reliable protection against water spray, moisture and dirt. It also
• Spatulas
has good electrical insulation properties and high heat resistance.
• Utensils
 page 03

Cable Accessories • Electroformed parts

• Food moldings (ice, chocolate, sweets)
The cable sector uses silicone rubber for cable terminations,
• Imitation leather
connectors, insulators and surge arrestors used indoors and
outdoors. High voltage liquid silicone rubber is ideal for energy • Plaster working molds for the manufacture of porcelain
and sanitary ceramics
transmission and distribution.
• Ornamental door, window, mirror and picture frames
• Ornamental fronts for furniture
Electronics Industry
Silicone rubber is essential to the electronics sector, where highly Silicone rubber is used in reproduction and copies of:
specialized applications make extreme demands on sealing • Archeological findings
materials. Silicone rubber is used to insulate, seal and protect • Architectural fabrication
circuits, engine gaskets, control unit gaskets, electronic
• Furniture parts
encapsulation and special elements for decoupling noise.
• Hobbyist applications
• Museum pieces

Engines • Reconstituted stone items

Silicones are important in industrial manufacturing where engines

place extreme demands on the heater hoses and coolant hoses. Semi-Conductors
Due to their stability with temperature fluctuations and burst strength Silicone rubber-encapsulated semi-conductors are used in industrial
properties, silicone rubber hoses remain resistant to kinks and motors, locomotives and power supplies requiring high voltage
vacuum collapse. switches; high frequency communications such as cell phone base
stations, satellites and radar; and high temperature applications for
aircraft engines, oil drilling and automotive electronics.
Medical Devices and Veterinary
Applications
Health care professionals can use silicone rubber products with
confidence. Silicone rubber retains its performance qualities and
does not contain plasticizers, animal-derived ingredients or natural
rubber latex that could generate unwelcome by-products that could
affect people or animals.

Molding
Silicones are ideal for making all kinds of sturdy, yet flexible molds for
industrial manufacturers, artists or craftspeople. Silicone rubber
compounds are easy to process, require no expensive equipment
and have adjustable working times and cure rates. Flexibility and
outstanding release properties mean silicone rubbers separate easily Toy Manufacturing
from a model and can be used over and over again. Silicone rubber
Toys and play equipment made with silicone rubber are durable, tear-
prototypes are used for design and working models, wax models or
resistant, chew-resistant, weather resistant, water resistant, pleasing
small production runs. Silicone molds are helpful in all types of
to touch, easy to color and can be sterilized at high temperatures.
reproduction material including wax, plaster, concrete, casting resin
and low-melting alloy.

Silicone rubber is used in industrial mass production of:

• Artistic replications (collectibles, sculptures, figurines,
statues, artifacts)
• Costume jewelry and ornamental buttons

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