Silicone elastomers are considered synthetic rubber materials that retain superior resistance against weathering and extreme temperatures. As an elastomer, silicone rubber sheeting is a flexible material that can retain its original form even after being stretched out or compressed for extended periods of time. Silicone manufacturers must cure the liquid material to create solid high temperature silicone rubber. Silicone sheets are also available in numerous colors, such as white silicone sheets or even blue silicone sheets. Due to its manufacturing process and inorganic polymer backbone structure, silicone elastomers are highly resilient and versatile rubber materials that may be used in industrial, automotive, and residential settings.

Is Silicone a Type of Rubber?

Silicone is a type of synthetic rubber due to its elastic nature and enhanced physical and chemical properties. More specifically, ‘Silicone rubber is an elastomer (rubber-like material) composed of silicone – itself a polymer – containing silicon together with carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen” (Wikipedia.org). Silicone elastomers can stretch out and then return to its original form once the pressure has been removed. Silicone elastomers are considered a synthetic rubber due to its superior physical and chemical properties over natural rubbers. It is also a much more resilient material that can resist the damaging effects of environmental factors as well as extreme high and low temperatures due to its inorganic polymer backbone structure made up of silicon-to-oxygen bonds. Organic polymers, such as natural rubbers, retain a carbon-to-carbon bonded backbone structure. Silicone elastomers have an operating temperature range of -103 to +500 degrees Fahrenheit. This allows silicone rubber to remain flexible in low temperatures and intact in high temperatures. For instance, “Silicone materials are generally flexible at low temperatures due to their low glass transition temperature (Tg)” (3.imimg.com). Silicone rubber also retains high tensile strength with a minimum tensile of 870 PSI (pounds per square inch). Due to their flexibility and high tensile strength, silicone elastomers are highly resilient materials that are often used to make industrial rubber parts.

• (a) Is All Silicone the Same?

  Not all silicone is the same and are available in FDA grade, commercial grade, and premium grade silicone rubber sheeting. FDA and premium grade silicone elastomers have the safe low temperature resistance range as commercial grade silicone of -103 degrees Fahrenheit, but it can resist higher temperatures. FDA and premium grade silicone elastomers can withstand temperatures as high as 500 degrees Fahrenheit whereas commercial grade silicone can only withstand temperatures of up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. FDA grade silicone rubber sheeting must follow the regulations listed in the Cod of Federal Regulations Title 21. The guidelines found in this code are put in place by the FDA to ensure safety and to prevent toxic material from leaching into products intended for human consumption. In addition, its 500-degree Fahrenheit high temperature resistance range helps keep the material intact when used in cooking or warming applications. Commercial and premium grade silicone elastomers are excellent materials that are often used for general purpose applications. However, because premium grade silicone rubber sheeting can withstand higher temperatures, it is often used where extreme heat resistance is required.

  (b) How Many Types of Silicone are There?

  There are three types of silicone available including commercial grade, FDA grade, and premium grade. FDA and premium grade silicone elastomers have wider operating temperature ranges of -103 to +500 degrees Fahrenheit – compared to commercial grade which has an operating temperature range of -103 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Commercial grade silicone is normally used for general purpose applications where they can be exposed to extreme temperatures. FDA grade silicone rubber sheeting is used in applications involving materials for human consumption, such as food production and storage applications. Although premium grade silicone has the same temperature resistance range as FDA grade silicone, it is not FDA approved, therefore, it is not safe for use around materials intended for human consumption. Premium grade silicone is generally used for applications that are to heat intensive for commercial grade silicone.

  (c) How is Silicone Rubber Manufactured?

  Silicone rubber is manufactured by extracting the chemical element, silicon, from silica, then blending it with other strengthening agents and heating them together to cure the material. Silicone elastomers are made of materials that derive from the naturally occurring element, silica, that is found in almost all types of sand around the world. For example, “To make silicone, the silicon atoms must be isolated from the silicon dioxide compound silica…From here, there are several processes where silicon is combined with methyl chloride and heated” (Wikipedia.org). To make solid silicone elastomers, silicone manufacturers put the liquid silicone material will have to go through a heating process referred to as “curing”. Curing is the process of heating the liquid material until it turns into a solid material. If it is not cured, the silicone material will remain a highly adhesive liquid material.

Is All Silicone High Temperature?

All silicone is high temperature and can withstand temperatures as high as +500 degrees Fahrenheit. High temperature silicone sheets are offered in different grades and, therefore, retain different high temperature resistance levels. Premium grade and FDA grade have a high temperature resistance range of 500 degrees Fahrenheit whereas, on the other hand, commercial grade has a high temperature resistance range that is slightly lower of 450 degrees Fahrenheit. High temperature silicone can remain intact and resist deformation when exposed to extremely high temperatures due to silicone elastomers’ inorganic silicon-to-oxygen polymer backbone structure. Silicone elastomers are consisted inorganic polymers and is made up of all carbon-to-carbon bonded polymer backbone structure. This polymer backbone structure gives silicone elastomers their superior resistance properties against extremely high temperatures (omnexus.specialchem.com). Due to its unique inorganic polymer backbone, silicone elastomers can remain a durable material in the face of extreme heat.

• (a) Does Silicone Melt or Burn?

  Silicone can burn at extremely high temperatures that are higher than 500 degrees Fahrenheit, but it does not melt and is very difficult to ignite and burn. To ignite silicone elastomers, they must be exposed to extremely high temperatures, such as an open flame. Unlike most rubbers that would become softer and melt, high temperature silicone rubber hardens and becomes brittle at temperatures above 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Silicone can eventually burn, but it is extremely difficult to do so and will have to be exposed to very, very high temperatures, such as an open flame. “Silicone is difficult to ignite, and when it does burn it burns to a non-conductive ash. While burning, silicone does not give off toxic materials” (expandusceramics.com). High temperature silicone is a thermally stable material, allowing it to remain flexible and ductile in the face of extreme high temperatures.

Does Silicone Come in Different Colors?

Silicone comes in 7 different colors including red, gray, translucent, red/orange, white, brown, blue, and black. Having multiple colors available of silicone rubber sheets makes it easy to color coordinate applications. Oftentimes, color has much to do with the industry and its aesthetics. For example, black is generally used in industrial settings/environments due to its sleek and uniform look. On the other hand, white generally identifies FDA grade or medical grade silicone, which are silicone elastomers that are used for applications involving products for human consumption. The other colors silicone rubber sheets are available in make it easy to color coordinate each rubber part to its appropriate application. Using the correct parts for an industrial application can be highly beneficial for the overall performance of the machine or piece of equipment – for instance, the use of incorrect parts can lead to costly malfunctions. These malfunctions can not only be costly, but they can also be dangerous and create hazards in the workplace.

• (a) Does Silicone Come in White?

  Silicone comes in white in both FDA grade and commercial grade silicone rubber sheets. These two types of silicone elastomers retain the same general properties, such as resistance to environmental factors, thermal stability, and compatibility with products intended for human consumption. FDA grade white silicone rubber can withstand temperatures as high as 500 degrees Fahrenheit. White silicone is generally reserved for FDA grade silicone elastomers and are generally used in the food service or medical fields due to the aesthetics of the color. For instance, black silicone is commonly seen in industrial settings due to its bold and uniform look. However, although it is generally seen and used in food service industries or the medical field, white silicone is offered in commercial grade sheets for general purpose industrial use as well.

Synthetic silicone elastomers are high resistant against harsh UV rays, ozone, oxygen, and moisture as well as extreme high and low temperatures. Because it is an elastomer, silicone rubber sheets are flexible materials that can return to its original form after being stretched or compressed for extended periods of time. High temperature silicone can withstand temperatures as high as 500 degrees Fahrenheit and as low as -103 degrees Fahrenheit making them highly durable for industrial or automotive industries. White silicone rubber is often reserved for FDA grade silicone sheets whereas colors, such as black, are used in industrial settings. Overall, silicone elastomers are excellent synthetic rubber materials that will offer durable applications in indoor and outdoor industrial, automotive, and residential settings.