When selecting an elastomer, it is important to know everything you possibly can about the material’s properties, characteristics, and resistances. Having a full understanding of what qualities you will and will not obtain from any particular rubber product will help you to save money, time, and effort. Many elastomers are very similar to each other in theory, but ultimately will have one feature that will help them stand out. In case of silicone rubber, it is generally a very high temperature resistance. Unlike other rubber sheets, it can withstand temperatures above 275° Fahrenheit.

Silicone CG Gray – 50A

Silicone CG White – 50A

An alternative to black colored elastomers, white nitrile shares all the great physical and chemical properties of normal nitrile material except for its color. It is an excellent oil-resistant rubber that can endure in the presence of various oils and greases. Also known as Buna-N rubber, this white version is usually chosen for its aesthetic value and non-marking characteristic. We recognize the fact that some applications may require a white colored component for the sake of appearance, and at other times for necessity. Whatever the reason, we bring to the market white colored nitrile rubber that is available for custom fabrication.

Non-Marking, Professional Aesthetic: While other rubbers often come in a standard black, we offer a white colored alternative. White nitrile is meant to give an application a sleek, modern, and professional appearance while functioning the way a proper nitrile elastomer is supposed to. Even more importantly, a white elastomer is a non-marking material that will not leave any marks or stains on the objects it comes into contact with. The white colored nitrile is suitable for use in cosmetics, grocery stores, and medical applications where white is better suited for aesthetics than black.

Oil-Resistant Rubber: Nitrile, or Buna-N rubber as it was originally known, was developed to be an oil-resistant alternative to natural rubber back in the years after World War I. Nitrile material is still used today whenever good oil and grease resistance is needed. White nitrile can resist organic and synthetic oils. While other types of elastomers can degrade when exposed to oils and greases, nitrile rubber can keep its form and integrity, making sure that it does its part to keep your application functioning.

Some elastomers are available in different versions: a commercial grade and a premium grade. Such is the case with red silicone rubber. Red silicone sheets are very appealing because they offer a level of visual stimulation that an otherwise black elastomer would not. In other words, red silicone rubber stands out! In many instances, that simple aesthetic feature of premium or commercial silicone is helpful or required in industrial machinery. Our commercial grade high heat silicone products come strictly in red, while our premium grade versions come with a variety of silicone colors to choose from, one of which is red. Though these products are both available in the same color, they still differ in the characteristics, properties, and availability they offer and because of this there are many pros and cons to each.

First, let’s examine the qualities that these two classes of heat resistant rubber sheet products have in common. Commercial grade & premium grade red silicone rubber share the following characteristics:

• These elastomers make for excellent gasket materials and can be used as a solution in harsh environments.
• Both premium and commercial silicone products offer excellent UV and ozone resistance that make them ideal for indoor and outdoor applications.

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Silicone CG Blue – 60A

These commercial grade blue silicone sheets are unique among their peers due to the fact that they come in a blue color. With a durometer rating of 60 Shore A, this commercial silicone material offers a good degree of resistance against physical indentation, although it has more limited flexibility when compared to the 50 or 40 shore A silicone. People prize silicone for being a temperature resistant rubber, and these silicone sheets are no different. You can use this sheet rubber as seals and gaskets for commercial grade applications that involve extremely hot or cold temperature conditions.

60A Silicone Shore Hardness: Thanks to a 60A durometer rating, this commercial silicone is durable enough to be used in applications that may involve physical abrasions. A rating of 60A gives the material a better ability to resist physical indentation on its body. This helps to ensure that the blue silicone sheets last for longer periods of time. This material is meant to favor physical durability over flexibility, so use it in application that require some more rigidity from your rubber parts.

Temperature Resistant Rubber: In most cases, extreme temperature conditions can damage a rubber. That is not the case with silicone rubber. This high quality commercial silicone rubber can operate in temperatures that range from -103 F to 450 F. Silicone is regularly used in a wide variety of applications that involve either very cold or very hot temperatures. These blue silicone sheets will help you identify parts based on their chemical compound. Since most other rubbr sheets (e.g. neoprene, epdm) are not blue, your staff can easily pick out material based on color.

• Silicone sheets are products that are always stocked. They are also available in a variety of durometers upon request (35-75). The flexibility of these red silicone rubber products can be adjusted to fit your application depending on what your determined specifications are. Please note that custom durometers are made to order, carry longer lead times, and are more expensive.
• Premium and commercial high heat silicone products offer a smooth finish making them ideal for gasket and sheet applications.

All of these properties make for an already excellent selection. However, there may be few differences that might matter to your application. The differences described below regarding premium and commercial silicone may change your mind about which product you would select for your specific application.

Premium Grade Red Silicone Rubber Specific Features:

• Our premium grade silicone sheets are available in red, grey, or black colors.
• These heat resistant rubber sheet products are used in applications that require higher physical properties, such as gasketing applications that require solutions able to withstand harsh environments.
• A wide temperature range of -103° F to 500° F, which is slightly more diverse than the standard commercial silicone products.
• The minimum elongation of our premium grade products is 400%, quite a bit more than the commercial grade products.
• Premium grade red silicone rubber is priced somewhat significantly higher than the commercial grade alternative, making these less cost effective.

Silicone – Premium Grade – Black – 60A

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Silicone CG Brown – 50A

Silicone – Commercial Grade Red/Orange – 70A – 3/8″ x 36″

If you are looking for a hard silicone rubber sheet, then choose this solid silicone sheet rubber with a 70 Shore A durometer rating! 70A is a high level rating in the durometer scale. This makes for sheet silicone that is very physically durable. It should be used when you require your high temperature materials to come with a bit of physical strength. 70A rubbers are able to withstand physical indentation very well. We highly recommend this material for use as a durable gasket for cost-conscious lab equipment and for commercial level chemical resistance.

Hard Silicone Rubber: A rating of 70A indicates one of our most durable elastomers in stock. It is very important for to have a longer lasting wear part, even for the more commercial mid-grade types of applications. Solid silicone fights permanent physical indentation better than softer versions of this product. This hard silicone rubber’s durability can also be enhanced by the material’s thickness gauges, which come in options ranging from 1/16″ to 3/8″. Please keep in mind that this material is not recommended if you are looking for sheet rubber with good flexibility.

High Temperature Materials: Silicone is known to be one of the most heat resistant elastomers currently available. People regularly employ silicone for a wide range of heat related applications, such as laboratory and automotive activity. This sheet silicone rubber can withstand temperatures reaching up to 450 F. At the same time, these high temperature materials are also comfortable in cold settings, specifically to -103 F.

Commercial Grade Red Silicone Rubber Specific Features:

• These high heat silicone products are used in applications where physical properties are not critical but extreme temperature resistance is necessary. They have a wide temperature range of -103° F to 450° F which varies slightly from its counterpart.
• The minimum elongation of our commercial grade red silicone rubber is 300%, significantly less than the premium grade options.
• We stock this product in a variety of gauges with 36’’ widths.
• This is the most cost effective of the high temperature elastomers. If this product fits all of your application’s specifications it will also help save your money.

Now that we’ve examined the similarities and differences between these two seemingly like products, it is obvious that their differences will greatly affect the outcome of your application. The cost effectiveness of the commercial silicone products may be just what you need. However, if your application demands higher physical properties than the standard, then the investment in premium grade red silicone rubber may be more significant to the success of your application. If you still aren’t sure which of these heat resistant rubber sheet products will best suit your needs, call and discuss it with one of our rubber experts today!

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