Silicone Rubber Frequently Asked Questions

Silicone Rubber Questions Quick Links

To help you navigate our frequently asked questions about silicone, you can click on the links below to quickly get to the answer you need.

• What is silicone?
• What are pros and cons of silicone rubber?
• Does the outside environment affect silicone?
• Why silicone rubber seems to be more expensive than other rubber?
• Is Silicone better than EPDM?
• Is silicone toxic?
• Is silicone suitable for food contact?
• What is silicone foam tube?
• Where Silicone Tube Used?

• What is silicone?

  Silicone, also called polysiloxane, is a highly versatile synthetic material used in a vast range of industries. It is a polymer comprised of siloxane that features a rubber-like consistency with molecules that have chains of alternating oxygen and silicon atoms.  Find out more about "What is Silicone?"
• What are pros and cons of silicone rubber?

  Advantages of silicone rubber
  One of the main advantages of silicone rubber is its heat resistance. It offers outstanding high-temperature resistance, with some compounds able to withstand temperatures up to 300 °C. Silicone’s thermal stability means it retains its structure and properties over a wide temperature range. This extends to low temperatures too, which means this synthetic rubber can maintain its flexibility even at -100°C.
  Disadvantages of silicone rubber
  One of the major disadvantages of silicone rubber is its poor tear strength. Another disadvantage of silicone elastomers is that as a premium product they can come with a similarly premium price tag compared to some other rubber materials.

  Show more details of "Advantages and disadvantages of silicone rubber"
• Does the outside environment affect silicone?

  No. Silicone is not affected by extremes of weather – hot, cold, dry, wet, or humid. It also has excellent resistance to UV and ozone degradation.
• Why silicone rubber seems to be more expensive than other rubber?

  Silicone rubber is more expensive than most rubber types because it is a speciality high performance polymer with outstanding qualities. It is made in relatively low quantities and requires expensive and complicated primary manufacturing facilities.
• Is Silicone better than EPDM?

  In general, Silicone can be utilised in more applications than EPDM although it can be used in some situations.

  • Silicone can withstand a wider range of temperatures from -60C to +300C
  • Silicone does not shrink during heating unlike EPDM which can decrease by 51% when heated over 150C
  • EPDM has slightly higher mechanical strength than Silicone but is less resistant to heat and cold under those conditions.
• Is silicone toxic?

  Silicone is generally considered to be non toxic which is why it is the material of choice for many food and beverage processing applications and domestic kitchen items such as utensils and bake ware.
• Is silicone suitable for food contact?

  Yes, Food grade silicone is most popular, it can be produced in forms that are suitable for contact with food and drinking water over a wide range of temperatures. We supply silicones that are fully compliant with FDA regulation 21CFR177.2600, EC1935/2004 as well as being WRAS approved (Water Regulations Advisory Scheme) for contact with drinking water.
• What is silicone foam tube?

  A silicone foam tube is a type of tubing made from silicone foam material. Silicone foam is a lightweight, compressible, and flexible material that has excellent thermal and electrical insulation properties. It is also resistant to water, chemicals, and UV radiation, making it suitable for use in a wide range of applications. Find out more with silicone tube definition uses and benifits
• Where Silicone Tube Used?

  Silicone tube also called silicone rubber tube, is a flexible cylindrical conduit manufactured from silicone rubber by an extrusion process, an elastomer that has found sealing and gasketing work in many settings.

  Silicone Tubing is commonly used in a wide range of industries, including medical, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, chemical, and automotive. Silicone tubes are preferred in these industries due to their unique properties such as high-temperature resistance, excellent flexibility, good chemical resistance, and biocompatibility. Find out more with silicone tube features and appilcations