Advantages of Silicone Rubber Parts
Safe enough for baby bottle nipples and strong enough for the aerospace industry, silicone rubber is one go-anywhere material. It withstands extreme temperatures and weather conditions and is a great electrical insulator.
Manufacturers fabricate silicone rubber parts using several different molding processes, including compression molding and liquid silicone injection molding (LIM). These two methods differ in how the material is molded to create specific properties such as: metal detectable, steam resistant, extreme high/low temperature resistance and more.
Temperature Resistance
The ability to resist extreme temperatures makes silicone rubber an ideal material for a wide range of uses. It can withstand high temperatures without significant changes, and below freezing levels without becoming brittle.
It’s also resistant to UV and ozone degradation, making it suitable for outdoor applications. It’s an excellent choice for electrical insulation, protecting cables and Silicone rubber parts connectors against ozone damage. Its low density and anti-fungal properties also make it perfect for food processing, preventing the growth of harmful bacteria.
Silicone’s flexibility and temperature resistance allow it to be used in a wide variety of applications, including voltage line insulators, automotive applications (gaskets, sealants, hoses, tubes), medical devices (long term implants, pacemakers), construction (glue, adhesives), household products (silicone kitchen mats) and electronics.
The properties of silicone are mainly due to its molecular structure. This unique structure carries both inorganic and organic groups. Methyl silicone is a good example, known as dimethylsilicone rubber or methyl silicone rubber. It is also available with phenyl and vinyl groups, known as methyl-phenylsilicone rubber or methylvinylsilicone rubber. This type of silicone has an excellent low-temperature performance and is referred to as PMQ. Other types of silicone rubber can be classified according to the hydrosilylation reaction curing type or the cation generating type, which is cured by irradiating the composition with ultraviolet radiation.
Conductivity
Silicone has excellent electrical insulation properties and does not degrade in contact with water, but that doesn’t mean it is conductive. However, with the addition of carbon black or silver and other additives, it can be made into an electrically conductive silicone rubber material.
This makes it ideal for medical applications that come into contact with living tissue, such as catheters. It can also be used in other areas that require high levels of conductivity, such as electronic components, wires and cables.
The addition of fillers like aluminum oxide and Silicone rubber parts boron nitride can give silicone rubber an electrically conductive property. In one study, researchers found that when they incorporated these materials into LSR, their out-of-plane thermal conductivity was 7.62 Wm-1K-1, while maintaining the flexibility and softness of silicone.
These types of conductive silicones can be made into sheets or molded into parts like O-rings and grommets. Some are even reinforced with fabric to provide added strength and increased conductivity. When choosing a conductive silicone, it is important to consider the environment that it will be placed in and whether or not it needs to be supported. Supported thermally conductive silicones can have higher rates of conductivity than unsupported ones, as the agglomerates in the composite act as regions of heat transfer. This can make a difference in the performance of an application.
Moisture Resistance
Silicone rubber parts retain their structural integrity even in the face of extreme moisture conditions. Its superior water resistance makes it a good choice for applications that require long-term exposure to humidity and condensation, such as air sealing or gaskets. Its physiological inertness and non-toxicity make it suitable for food processing applications, as well.
Its high temperature resistance makes silicone a popular choice for electrical equipment such as generators and electric motors, where it can endure heat and moisture. It can withstand a maximum temperature of 200°C (392°F) for extended periods without significant changes in physical properties, making it an ideal insulator for such equipment.
In addition to its high-temperature resilience, silicone elastomers are also resistant to UV rays and general weathering stresses, such as wind and rain, for long periods of time. This makes them suitable for outdoor use, such as awnings, windows and door seals. They can also withstand ozone and are unimpacted by petroleum-based oils.
Silicone elastomers are able to resist these elements due to their siloxane bond strength, which is higher than carbon bonds. These characteristics make them a versatile and dynamic material for a wide range of products, markets and applications. Silicones are used in the aerospace industry for spacesuit fabrics, tooling materials and seals. In the automotive market, they’re often used to reduce vibrations and stabilise joints. They’re also found in mass transit applications, where they’re used for hoses, dampers and mounts, helping to decrease noise levels and customer comfort.
Durability
Durability refers to the ability of a material to resist physical stress and environmental factors that can cause it to degrade or fail. This includes resistance to temperature fluctuations, exposure to chemicals and aging. Silicone rubber parts are generally known for their durability. However, like all materials, they can experience some form of wear and tear. This can result in a gradual loss of strength or elasticity, leading to part failure.
The durability of silicone rubber is also influenced by its mechanical properties, including flexibility and tensile strength. Silicone is able to withstand a wide range of temperatures without becoming brittle or melting, making it ideal for use in extreme environments. It is also resistant to bacteria, which makes it an excellent material for sterile medical devices such as catheters and defibrillators. It is also commonly used in construction and electronics. For example, silicone is the main ingredient of the seals and cases for smartphones that protect them from damage.
To ensure that your silicone rubber parts are as durable as possible, it is important to design them with proper draft angles and reduce undercuts. This will help to prevent stresses during curing that can cause warping and voids in the finished part. In addition, a regular maintenance schedule can help detect early signs of degradation that may indicate the need for replacement parts before they become catastrophically damaged.