Silicone sponge products today are a commonly used elastomer in many industrial applications as it has many inherent qualities that make it suitable for all kinds of purposes. Since its first introduction in the 1940s, this synthetic elastomer has made a name for itself thanks to its unique ability to function with high temp materials and conditions. Sometimes referred to as foam, silicone sponge rubber’s use has expanded to include food handling and medical applications that see the presence of extreme temperature ranges. The humble beginnings of silicone foam may come as a surprise when thinking of all of the uses and applications it fits today but everybody starts somewhere!

The first silicone sponge elastomers were developed in search of better insulating materials for electric motors and generators as the automotive industry grew and took off. Previously used products could not withstand the higher temperatures that were normally required in newer and smaller developed engines. Natural rubber was commonly used but performed terribly against high temperatures and chemicals. There was a need for an elastomer that would not break down in such conditions and applications.

World War II provided the impetus for developing new kinds of elastomers like the silicone sponge. The Japanese cut off allied supply lines to natural rubber in Asia. In their search for alternatives, Allied forces developed man-made alternatives that possessed unique properties that natural rubber lacked. Chemists at Corning Glass and General Electric were investigating heat-resistant high temp materials for use as resinous binders when they synthesized the first silicone polymers, demonstrated that they worked well, and found a route to produce polydimethylsiloxane commercially (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicone_rubber).

The arrival of silicone sponge set off a development race. With the success of Corning Glass and General Electric, many other companies began manufacturing this new class of elastomer for mass production. Corning Glass and Dow Chemical were some of the first to jump on board of the silicone rubber foam wagon in their joint project starting in 1943. General Electric, not to be outdone, followed closely behind opening its own silicone production plant in 1947. Other companies from around the world began sprouting up as the demand for this new silicone foam product and awareness of its usefulness and cost-effectiveness became known. Production of silicone rubber foam in Europe began in 1947 with the opening of the Wacker Chemie production plant. Then in 1953 the Japanese silicone market opened when Shin-Etsu Chemical Company began mass production of the silicone sponge rubber product.

As the capabilities and traits of silicone foam continued to be discovered and developed, a multitude of new uses became available. Although these high temp materials were originally sought after for their heat resistance, it is now known that silicone rubber foam has many other highly desirable characteristics. In addition to being able to withstand a wide range of temperatures, it is also able to function as an airtight seal, is highly compressible, and is very resistant to many chemicals. Silicone sponge rubber is often used today in waterproofing treatments, high temperature insulation, mechanical seals or gaskets. The most common applications for this elastomer would be as a gasket or seal used in mechanical functions, such as car engines, which is what our silicone foam products are predominantly used for. In short, whenever you need an elastomer to handle chemicals or low and high temp materials, then silicone rubber is the perfect elastomer for the job.

Silicone rubber foam rubber has exceeded any and all expectations that anyone ever had for it when originally developed. The companies that began the mass production of this product are still top competitors in the industry today. Simply the fact that they are still popular today for increasing varieties of use should be a testament to the success of silicone sponge rubber. The usefulness and future need for this elastomer could never have been imagined by the chemists who first looked into it all those years ago. Now the full potential of silicone sponge has been realized and there will be no turning back for this industrial machine.