Clear and translucent silicone sheets are very similar materials in the sense that they are both fairly sheer. Clear silicone rubber will be slightly clearer than translucent silicone, but they will both offer excellent physical and chemical properties that make them ideal for harsh applications and settings. Transparent rubber is ideal for applications that may need more visibility; however, the lack of color affects the temperature resistance range of the transparent rubber material. Despite this, clear, translucent, and colored silicone are all highly resistant to harsh environmental factors as well as physically and chemically abrasive industrial settings allowing them to be used in both indoor and outdoor settings.

What is Transparent Silicone?

Transparent silicone is an extremely durable material that is often used in applications where visibility is important. Also known as translucent silicone, this version of clear silicone rubber is see-through, allowing for excellent visibility in applications where visibility may be required. Transparent, or translucent, silicone often retain similar operating temperature ranges and environmental resistant properties as well as excellent flexibility as its other colored silicone counterparts, although not exactly the same. For instance, “Transparent silicone materials have outstanding properties including good flexibility, ultraviolet (UV) resistance, dimensional stability, a wide range of service temperatures, high transparency, and minimal moisture absorption” (pubs.acs.org). Translucent silicone retains a slightly smaller operating temperature range of -103 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit whereas most commercial grade silicones’ ranges are -103 to +500 degrees Fahrenheit. Due to its lack of color, translucent silicone is a non-marking material, meaning it will not leave any marks or remnants of color if it is dragged across a surface. Take rubber shoe soles for example; black, or any other colored rubber shoe soles, often leave black or colored skid marks when scraped up against a surface. Clear silicone rubber will be unmarking thanks to its lack of color. This along with its wide operating temperature range makes translucent silicone a highly valued material. Translucent silicone is also often used in applications where visibility is important, such as in food service industries. Overall, transparent silicone is an extremely durable material that is often used in applications where visibility is important as well as a sleek, professional experience.

• (a) Is Transparent Silicone Clear?

  Transparent silicone is clear enough to see through; however, it is still cloudier to look through rather than being 100% crystal clear. Although this transparent rubber may not be 100% clear, it is still an extremely durable material with excellent flexibility and a wide working temperature range. For instance, “Transparent silicone materials have outstanding properties including good flexibility, ultraviolet (UV) resistance, thermal resistance, dimensional stability, and wide range of service temperatures, high transparency, and minimal moisture absorption” (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). It is widely used in electronics and coating applications due to its excellent properties and sheer nature. Although translucent silicone is not as durable as colored silicone rubber. The strength and resilience of a translucent silicone sheet will reduce its clarity. Case is point, “Incorporation of various inorganic fillers such as nao-SiO2 and carbon nanotubes into a polysiloxane matrix has been shown to improve the mechanical properties, but at the expense of lower transparency” (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Therefore, the clearer the translucent silicone, the stronger and more resilient it will be however, translucent silicone will not be as durable as colored silicone.

  (b) Does Clear Silicone Yellow Over Time?

  Clear silicone will eventually yellow over time due to prolonged exposure to light and other various environmental factors, including humidity and excessive moisture, that may not be ad damaging to dark colored silicone such as black silicone rubber. Silicone rubber is an extremely durable material that is able to withstand the harsh conditions of the outdoors and abrasive temperatures; however, too much exposure can accelerate the rate of aging. In addition, there are several different causes of decolorization in clear silicone rubber. For instance, “There are many things that cause sealants to discolor, but basically all can be grouped into 2 categories: Mechanical Action or Chemical Reactions” (researchgate.net). Mechanical actions refer to factors, such as wear and tear, staining solvents, or dust and dirt pick up whereas chemical reactions that cause discoloration in clear silicone rubber include external and chemical formulation. One way of discoloration is brought on by outside forces whereas the other depends on the formulation of the silicone rubber material. However, of all these factors that cause discoloration, photo-oxidation and thermo-oxidation are the most damaging. Case in point, “both routes are similar in that they involve generation of free radicals on sealant components that subsequently rearrange or react with oxygen or other components to form color centers or chromophores…Photo-oxidation is initiated by absorption of photons of light by certain chemical groups. Thermo-oxidation is initiated by heat, but this heat can also come from UV light absorption” (researchgate.net). Silicone rubbers are extremely durable and will last for years in the outdoors, but it will eventually yellow over a period of several years due to aging.

What is the Difference Between Clear and Translucent Silicone?

The difference between clear and translucent silicone can be seen through the clarity of the material. Clear silicone rubber, as its name implies, is completely absent of color or cloudiness. On the other hand, translucent silicone is generally a see-through material; however, the visibility of the other side will be cloudy and blurred. Due to their lack of color, both clear and translucent silicone are non-marking rubbers meaning they will not leave a mark or stain when it is rubbed up against something; this is a property that is highly valued in these colorless silicone materials. Each variation of silicone rubber is highly resistant to extreme temperatures, but it is not as resistant to high temperatures as white or other colored silicone sheets. For instance, translucent silicone retains the same low temperature resistance, but its high temperature resistance range is reduced from +500 degrees Fahrenheit to about 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Various fillers may be added to the uncured silicone material to give it better physical strength; however, this will lower its sheerness, thus reducing its clarity. Despite their difference in clarity, both clear and translucent silicone will be able to provide durable and long-lasting applications in extreme temperatures and caustic chemicals.

• (a) Does Silicone Come in Colors?

  Silicone comes in colors such as black, white, gray, brown, blue, red, and even translucent. The availability of colored silicone makes it easy to identify and organize rubber parts for certain industrial applications. Black silicone rubber is most often used for industrial purposes due to its bold and dark aesthetics. Its bold and striking color makes for a clean and industrial aesthetic that is perfect for industrial settings. Premium grade and good grade silicones are able to withstand higher temperatures than other variations, such as commercial grade, and will be better suited for high temperature applications exceeding 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Food grade silicone rubber, or FDA silicone, as well as premium grade black silicone rubber are able to withstand a wider range of temperatures. They are able to withstand temperatures as low as -103 degrees Fahrenheit to as high as +500 degrees Fahrenheit. Most colored silicone sheets can withstand high temperatures, but not to the extent of premium or food grade silicone. They are able to withstand the same low temperature, but its high temperature resistance is reduced to about 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Despite these differences, colored silicone sheets are all able to remain durable in outdoors settings, industrial settings, and in applications involving caustic chemicals. The different colors of silicone sheets can help organize industrial settings by color matching for applications. For example, using the incorrect rubber part in an industrial application can cause damage to machinery that may be expensive to repair. Furthermore, broken or failed applications can create hazards that may create an unsafe work environment.

The difference between clear and translucent silicone sheets can be seen through their operating temperature ranges. Because clear silicone rubber is a bit more sheer than translucent silicone, it is able to withstand up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit rather than 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Both variations of silicone rubber are highly resistant to damaging environmental factors, such as UV rays, ozone, oxygen, and moisture, allowing them to be versatile materials for both indoor and outdoor industrial settings. Although they will remain reliable applications in outdoor settings, due to aging caused by constant exposure to light and UV rays, translucent silicone, unlike colored silicone, will eventually turn yellow with time. Despite the differences in color and temperature resistance, translucent silicone rubber will offer durable and long-lasting application in industrial settings, whether it be indoors or outdoors.