Wacker Silicone Rubber

Silicone rubber is a high-performance elastomer characterized by an unusual combination of properties. These properties range from high-temperature performance to durability, excellent electrical insulation properties as well as its transparency. Silicone rubber is actually a durable as well as highly-resistant elastomer (material that feels like rubber) composed of silicone (polymer) containing silicon alongside several other molecules such as carbon, hydrogen as well as oxygen. Its structure always comprises a siloxane backbone (silicon-oxygen chain) and an organic moiety bound to the silicon.

Hence, the properties of silicone rubber can vary greatly depending on the:

• Organic groups (methyl, vinyl, phenyl, trifluoropropyl or other groups)
• Chemical structure

Key Properties Of Silicone Rubbers

The strong Si-O chemical structure and high bond energy give Si Elastomers their unique performance properties. Several benefits of silicone rubbers include:

• Wide service temperature range – excellent thermal as well as thermoxidative resistance (-Si-O-Si- binding energy is much higher than C-C bonds)
• Excellent resistance to attack by oxygen, ozone as well as sunlight
• Readily resistant to electromagnetic and particle radiation (UV, alpha, beta and gamma rays)
• Excellent non-stick and non-Liquid silicone as an adhesive properties
• Low toxicity
• Flexible at really low temperatures because of their low glass transition temperature (Tg).
• Optical transparency
• Good excellent insulation properties
• Low chemical reactivity
• High bio-compatibility
• Excellent mechanical properties (high tear strength, high elongation)

Popular Applications Where You Can Find Silicone Rubbers

• Silicone rubber is a perfect choice of material in applications requiring:
• For applications exceeding working temperature above 100°C (which most rubber cannot withstand)
• Non-toxic food contact applications
• High electrical resistance
• High steam sterilization resistance especially in seals & gaskets used in medical devices
• High durability, color matching options, etc.
• Other than these above-stated reasons, silicone rubbers parts are widely adapted in aerospace, industrial as well as semiconductor industries.

Liquid Silicone adhesives offer unparalleled flexibility and exceptionally high heat resistance, making them suitable for a wide range of applications in the electrical, electronic, automotive, aerospace, and construction industries. Liquid silicone as an adhesive may be a substance that’s applied to the surfaces of materials to bind them together and resist separation. Liquid silicone as an adhesive is typically organized by the method of the adhesion, and they are divided into reactive or non-reactive Liquid silicone as an adhesive, and of natural or synthetic origins. A polymer Liquid silicone as an adhesive is a synthetic bonding substance made from different polymers (reactive or non-reactive) and is considered stronger, more flexible and has a higher impact resistance than other forms of Liquid silicone as an adhesive.

They are used in automotive, aerospace, aviation, construction, electronics, and electrical industries. Due to the infinite possibilities of plastic types, fillers, and additives, Liquid silicone as an adhesive can be created according to the specific needs of the application with great precision. To design a good Liquid silicone as an adhesive joint, some factors must be taken into account: the Liquid silicone as adhesive properties and the material information. In the first factor, cure speed, environmental resistance, thermal resistance, and suitability for automation are important. In relation to the material information, the focus is on the properties of the material that will be bonded and it is surface treatments because some of them are inherently difficult to bond. For this, the surface roughening and primers are the most popular processes to improve the adhesion.

Liquid silicone as an adhesive is easily customized and co-formulated; they have excellent electrical properties and can be formulated to be insulative with high dielectric strength or, conversely, electrically conductive. Additionally, they are biocompatible. Although some liquid silicone adhesives release corrosive entities, there are special formulations that are non-corrosive and chemically and thermally stable. A liquid silicone rubber material is actually a two-part platinum-cured elastomer that may be injected into a mold cavity to manufacture a part. LSR is extremely versatile in the elastomer industry and is seen across an entire spectrum of parts from consumer products to medical devices and everything in between.

The operating temperature range for LSR can be between -65°C to150°C, which short peaks to 260°C. With post-cure, it actually offers a very low compression set and at the same time can meet low outgassing down to TML < 1 percent and CVCM < 0.1percent. These polymers are translucent, which suggests they will be pigmented to match any color requirement. LSR also has quick cycle times and less raw material handling — leading to quicker delivery times and greater throughput.

To help manufacturers unleash the full potential of this material, we compiled everything you need to understand about liquid silicone rubber.