As a long-standing silicone rubber supplier, we’ve dealt with customers that have used this flexible material in a gamut of uses and applications. Silicone rubber’s excellent resistance to ozone, oxygen and UV rays make it a popular elastomer to use in outdoor conditions. For extreme temperature applications, it is nearly imperative to buy silicone rubber since it is the only readily available elastomer than can withstand temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and as low as -103 degree Fahrenheit without drastically losing stability. As the cherry on top this rubber is physiologically inert and does not release any taste or smell in contrast to most types of elastomers.
Silicone – Premium Grade – Black – 60A
With such unique and almost unrivaled properties, it is easy to miss silicone rubber’s broad range of chemical resistance, which is just as impressive. In particular applications, it is vital to contact a silicone rubber supplier to ensure that the elastomer is compatible. While you’re here, take a look at a couple of common products:
Motor and machine oil: As far as oil-resistant elastomers go, nitrile and chloroprene (neoprene) are often the first types of rubber’s that come to mind. Yet, depending on the temperature, silicone may be the superior rubber in motor and machine oil applications. At temperatures below 212 degrees Fahrenheit, nitrile and chloroprene have a better oil resistance than silicone. In temperatures that exceed 270 degrees Fahrenheit, silicone can maintain its stability and oil resistance better than nitrile and chloroprene. Lets name some:
- Transformer oil, 150 Celsius
- Castor Oil, 150 Celsius
- Gear Oil Type SEA 90, 150 Celsius
- Diesel Oil, 20 Celsius
- Compressor Oil, light, 150 Celsius
- Brake Fluid AT, 100 Celsius
Food-related oils and greases: Many companies buy silicone rubber not only for cooking and baking utensils but also for food processing components like seal gaskets. The temperature-tolerant elastomer has a low toxicity, taste and smell, which is ideal in such applications. Yet, it is also used in food processing and preparation due to its resistance to many common food substances:
- Coconut oil, 20 Celsius
- Peanut oil, 20 Celsius
- Soybean oil, 20 Celsius
- Butter, 20 Celsius
- Animal fats (lard) , 20 Celsius
- Corn oil , 20 Celsius
- Fish oil, 20 Celsius
- Salt cooking solution 10%, 20 Celsius
- Olive oil, 150 Celsius
- Vaseline, 150 Celsius
Silicone CG Red/Orange – 70A
- Comes in a red/orange color
- Good resistance to materials like fungus
- Also available in lower durometer options
- Hard silicone rubber with a smooth surface texture
- Rolls of this sheet silicone are 25′ or 50′ depending on gauge
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.
Silicone – Premium Grade – Gray – 60A
Polar organic compounds: Alcohol, dimethyl ether and other polar organic compounds do not cause the rubber to swell or soften drastically. Such compounds affect most rubbers with the exception of nitrile. It must be noted that non-polar compounds like gasoline do cause silicone to swell. So what are polar compounds? Depending on the relative electronegativities of the two atoms sharing electrons, there may be partial transfer of electron density from one atom to the other. When the electronegativities are not equal, electrons are not shared equally and partial ionic charges develop. The greater the electronegativity difference, the more ionic the bond is. Bonds that are partly ionic are called polar covalent bonds.
Acids and bases: Dilute acids and bases like acetic acid and ammonia do not cause an adverse reaction when exposed to silicone. Stronger acids and bases do cause a reaction with the rubber and should be avoided. Here are some acids that silicone is resistant to:
- Acstic Acid, 20 Celsius
- Phosphric Acid 30%, 20 Celsius
- Hydrochloric Acid 10%, 20 Celsius
- Sulfuric Acid, 20 Celsius
If you are unsure of the compatibility of silicone with your application, any silicone rubber supplier will be able to educate you on the physical, chemical and mechanical properties of the elastomer. Silicone rubber’s set of properties may be flexible, but it can’t be used in just any application!
Silicone CG White – 50A
- White silicone sheet rubber features a smooth surface texture
- Has a good level of resistance against fungus
- Can be used outdoors thanks to durability against UV and ozone
- If you need a custom seal or gasket made out of this white silicone rubber, we encourage you to send in a drawing of the parts needed
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.
