What Is Silicone Rubber?

Silicone or polysiloxane is an inert synthetic compound available in different forms, including rubber, resin, or oil. Silicone rubber is manufactured by extracting silicon from silica, passing it via hydrocarbons, and combining the resultant material with chemicals to form the rubber. It’s a polymer that contains silicon, carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and sometimes other elements.

Silicone is highly flexible and temperature-resistant. It is also gas permeable, nonstick, hypoallergenic, flame-resistant, and chemically inert. These properties make silicone a popular choice for adhesives, sealants, medical applications, insulation, cookware, and lubricants.

Pros & Cons of Silicone Rubber

Silicone rubber gaskets provide the following benefits:

•         Suitable for a wide range of applications: Silicone is highly versatile and ideal for a wide range of applications. 
•         High thermal resistance: It can withstand extremely high (482 °F) and low (-67 °F) temperatures. 
•         Food-safe: Silicone is safe to use in food and beverage processing applications due to its unique chemistry.  
•         Resistant to automotive fluids: Silicone does not degrade with exposure to automotive fluids. 
•         Good compression set: The material has an even better compression set than EPDM.
•         Long lifespan: Silicone has a longer lifespan, saving on replacement costs and reducing equipment downtime. 

The material has some drawbacks if these factors influence your project:

•         Expensive: Silicone costs more based on the specific material formulation. 
•         Swells when exposed to water: Silicone is not suitable for water-based applications because it swells when exposed to water.
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