Silicone rubber material is a durable synthetic rubber best known for its superior temperature resistance properties. Industrial silicone parts are commonly used in industrial and automotive settings due to the durable resistance properties of silicone rubber sheeting. Not only is heat resistant silicone rubber impervious to high temperatures, but it can also stand up well against extremely low temperatures as well. A silicone rubber roll is a valued material used in applications involving extreme temperatures, chemicals, impacts, and abrasions. Additionally, silicone rubber material is versatile and can be used both indoors and outdoors without being damaged by harsh environmental factors. Furthermore, its strength and tear resistance will give silicone rubber long life in abrasive industrial and automotive settings.

What is the Difference Between Silicon and Silicone?

Silicon is different from silicone in that silicon is a chemical element while silicone is a synthetic substance made with silicon. The two substances are commonly confused due to their similar spellings; however, they are two separate materials. Silicon is an element with the symbol Si and the atomic number 14 and it “makes up 27.7 percent of Earth’s crust; it is the second most abundant element in the crust, being surpassed only by oxygen” (Britannica.com). This means it is found in abundance and is commonly used to create many industrial products and materials, including silicones. Although they are two separate substances, silicon is used to create silicone rubber material. Case in point, silicon is “used to make silicones. These are silicon-oxygen polymers with methyl groups attached. Silicone oil is a lubricant and is added to some cosmetics and hair conditioners. Silicone rubber is used as a waterproof sealant in bathrooms and around windows, pipes and roofs” (rsc.org). Before vulcanizing silicon with the other elements, it must first be extracted from silica, one of the most abundant materials on earth commonly found in sand. For instance, “Silicon is produced by heating sand (SiO2) with carbon to temperatures around 2200°C [3992°F]” (mine-engineer.com). Once the silicon is extracted, it can then be vulcanized with hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon to create solid silicone rubber material. Contrastingly, silicone is a synthetic rubber material that is made up of a blend of silicon, oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon. Silicone rubber sheeting is commonly seen in industrial and automotive settings in the form of seals, gaskets, and insulation. It is available in 40A, 50A, 60A, and 70A durometer sheets as well as in commercial grade, premium grade, and food grade variations. It is an extremely durable material that retains excellent tear strength and shock absorption. Silicone rubber material is best known for its superior heat resistance properties with a wide operating temperature range of -103 to +500 degrees Fahrenheit.

What Makes Silicone Unique?

Its inorganic silicon-to-oxygen bonded polymer backbone makes silicone unique. Silicone rubber material is produced by vulcanizing the liquid silicone material made up of silicon, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen with sulfur, creating solid silicone rubber sheeting. The blend of elements used to create silicone make it an “inorganic” polymer with a unique silicon-to-oxygen backbone structure that gives it superior properties that make it a versatile material. Unlike organic polymers with a carbon-to-carbon backbone structure, the unique silicone-to-oxygen backbone bonds of silicone rubber material give it better heat resistance, chemical resistance, thermal and electrical insulation, abrasion resistance, and weatherability than other rubber variations (omnexus.specialchem.com). Due to these resilient properties of silicone, a silicone rubber roll is a common and popular material used to create industrial silicone rubber parts. Silicone rubber sheeting is a good material for use in industrial and automotive settings due to its excellent high temperature resistance, chemical resistance, and tear strength. Heat resistant silicone rubber is also highly resistant to caustic chemicals found in certain industries, such as industrial or automotive industries. Oftentimes, industrial silicone seals and gaskets are common products found in these settings due to the material’s excellent resistance to abrasive factors. In addition, industrial silicone products may also be used in outdoor settings without suffering damage from environmental factors, including UV rays, ozone, oxygen, and moisture.

Silicone rubber sheeting is a highly durable material commonly used to create industrial silicone parts for abrasive settings, including industrial and automotive settings. It is considered an inorganic polymer that retains a unique polymer backbone structure of silicon-to-oxygen bonds. This unique bond differs from the usual carbon-to-carbon bonded polymer backbone and gives silicone rubber material enhanced properties and strength. Heat resistant silicone rubber is known for its wide operating temperature range of -103 to +500 degrees Fahrenheit. Silicone rubber material is a resilient elastomer made of silicon that offers resilient strength, chemical resistance, environmental resistance, and a wide operating temperature range.