Silicone Rubber
Silicone Rubber is a synthetic rubber. It is a premium compound that comes at a premium cost and is very versatile. Silicone rubber exhibits excellent high-temperature operation and good low-temperature flexibility, making it a popular choice for both low- and high-volume silicone manufacturing runs across industries.
REDCO is your go-to expert silicone rubber parts manufacturer. We can meet the needs of any rubber production with manufacturing processes in-house at our USA facility, including silicone molding and die-cutting services. To learn more about how we can support your order, contact us or request a quote today.
Properties of Silicone
Silicone is an elastomer composed of silicon, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Depending on your chosen formulation, silicone may also contain other fillers. These additions are included to try and improve certain properties or reduce the overall cost of your production. Due to these variations, the exact properties of silicone rubber will depend on the type you select for your order. Call REDCO at 775-882-3100 today to learn more.
Silicone Rubber Parts Characteristics
Silicone rubber outshines other varieties of rubber in many applications due to its high-performance characteristics, such as:
- Specific Gravity: .95
- Tensile Strength, PSI—Pure Gum: 500
- Tensile Strength, PSI—Reinforced: 1200
- Practical Shore A Hardness Range: 20-80
Benefits of Silicone Material
Versatile and tough, silicone can stand up to a variety of environmental factors. It features fast curing, a low compression set, and delivers parts with long operational lifespans. Other advantages of silicone rubber include:
- Excellent atmosphere aging, oxidation, heat, and moisture resistance
- Excellent low temperature flexibility
- Excellent dielectric properties
- Good compression set
- Good permeability
- Good resistance to flame, diluted acid, oxygenated solvents, and animal or vegetable oil
- Fair heat, tear, and abrasion resistance
- Fair resistance to hydrocarbons, oil, and gasoline
Silicone’s Limitations
For most productions, cost is the leading limitation for choosing silicone. Due to this rubber's advanced features and versatile characteristics, it tends to be more expensive than other materials. It also has poor tear strength, which can be addressed with additives. Always be sure to work with a reliable developmental laboratory like REDCO when working with custom rubbers or elastomer compounds.
Silicone rubbers are generally attacked by solvents, oils, concentrated acids, and dilute sodium hydroxide. If your application involves these substances, a different rubber material will be required for production. Download our Properties of Rubber chart for more information about other available options.
Industrial Applications for Silicone Rubber
Used across virtually every industry, silicone rubber is a high-performing, hypoallergenic, and biocompatible choice for parts used for automotive operations, consumer goods, electronics, medical devices, and other productions. Common components include:
- Rubber rollers
- Gaskets and seals
- Rubber extrusions
- Coatings and sealings
- Cooking utensils and tools
- Adhesives
- Food molds
- Medical tubes and valves
- Goggles and mouthpieces
- And much, much more!
REDCO is Your #1 Silicone Rubber Products Manufacturer
Your satisfaction is REDCO’s top priority. Our team works closely with you to ensure all your specifications are met. Every production is completely American-made and carried out under one roof. From detailed manufacturing solutions to rigorous quality control, we always go the extra mile to guarantee that you receive high-quality products delivered on time and within budget.
Contact us today to learn more about our services and capabilities. Request a quote to begin your order.
