Silicone Rubber

What is Silicone Rubber
Silicone rubber is a synthetic rubber made from silicon, unlike natural rubber. It's an essential compound with excellent performance in various fields, making it a widely applicable material and the reason for its use in nearly all industries' products. Silicone rubber exhibits remarkable resistance to extreme temperatures, whether in hot or cold conditions. Compared to traditional rubber, silicone rubber exhibits significantly superior tensile strength, elongation, tear resistance, and compression set performance under extreme temperatures.

It also has good aging resistance, excellent electrical insulation, low toxicity, biocompatibility, and great sealing performance. Due to its properties, it is widely utilized in various fields. In the medical field, it is used to manufacture items such as catheters and artificial organs. In the electrical and electronic field, it is used for insulating materials and cable sheaths. In the automotive industry, it is used to make seals and shock-absorbing parts. In the food and beverage industry, it is used to make food-grade seals and baking molds. In the aerospace field, it is used for engine and fuel system seals.

What is Silicone Rubber Made From?
Silicone rubber is a type of synthetic rubber mainly composed of siloxane polymers, which consist of silicon, oxygen, and organic groups. Its main chain is a siloxane chain formed by alternating silicon and oxygen atoms, endowing it with unique thermal stability and flexibility. The high strength of the silicon-oxygen bond gives silicone rubber high temperature resistance and excellent chemical stability. 

The processing of silicone rubber typically involves these steps: First, prepare siloxane polymers, organic group reagents, fillers like silica, cross-linkers like peroxides, and additives like antioxidants. Next, thoroughly mix the siloxane polymers with fillers and additives in a mixer for even dispersion. Then, add the cross-linker and trigger the cross-linking reaction via conditions like heating or light exposure. For instance, heated peroxides decompose into free radicals, cross-linking siloxane chains into a 3D network, while platinum-catalyzed hydrosilation reactions enable precise cross-linking under mild conditions for high-performance products. After that, put the cross-linked silicone rubber into a mold and form it into the desired product shape through molding processes such as compression molding, extrusion, and injection molding. Finally, post-treat the molded items with heat treatment, surface treatment, etc., to enhance performance, remove impurities, and improve surface properties.

Properties of Silicone material

• With Extreme Temperature Range
• Good Sealing Performance
• Tensile Strength Range: 200-1500 P.S.I.
• Elongation: 700% Maximum
• Durometer (Hardness) – Range: 30-90 Shore A
• Resistances
• Abrasion Resistance: Fair to Poor
• Tear Resistance: Poor
• Solvent Resistance: Poor
• Oil Resistance: Fair to Poor
• Aging Weather - Sunlight: Excellent
• General Characteristics
• Adhesion to Metals: Good
• Compression Set: Good
• Resilience/Rebound: Good
• Electrical Properties
• Dielectric Strength: 400 - 600 volts/mil
• Volume Resistivity: 10¹³ - 10¹⁶ ohm - cm
• Arc Resistance: 120 - 180 seconds
• Flammability
• UL 94 Rating: Usually V-0 (self - self-extinguishing in most formulations)
• Flame Spread Index: Low
• Thermal Conductivity
• Thermal Conductivity Value: 0.12 - 0.20 W/(m·K)
• Water Absorption
• Water Absorption Percentage: Less than 0.5% by weight after 24 hours of immersion
• Permeability
• Gas Permeability: Moderate to high for some gases, like oxygen and carbon dioxide
• Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate (MVTR): Low to moderate, depending on formulation
• Chemical Resistance
• Acid Resistance: Fair to good against weak acids, poor against strong acids
• Base Resistance: Fair to poor
• Biocompatibility
• Medical Grade Compatibility: Widely used in medical devices due to high biocompatibility
• Toxicity Level: Low - generally non-toxic and non-irritant
• Processing Characteristics
• Ease of Molding: High, can be molded using various techniques like injection molding, compression molding, and extrusion
• Curing Time: Varies depending on formulation and curing method, can range from seconds to hours

Benefits and Advantages of Silicone​
Silicone offers numerous benefits and advantages in various applications, mainly due to its unique chemical and physical properties. The following are some of the key benefits and advantages:
Versatility: Silicone can be easily formulated and processed into various forms, including liquids, gels, elastomers, and resins, to meet different application requirements.
Wide Temperature Tolerance: It can maintain good performance in extreme temperatures, ranging from very low to high, generally from -50°C to 200°C. Some special silicone rubbers can even withstand temperatures as low as -100°C or as high as 250°C.
Excellent Chemical Resistance: Silicone is highly resistant to a wide array of chemicals, including oils, solvents, acids, and alkalis. 
Superior Electrical Insulation: Due to its exceptional electrical insulation, high dielectric strength, and low electrical conductivity, silicone is extensively utilized in the electrical and electronics sectors.
High Flexibility and Elasticity: Silicone maintains its flexibility and elasticity over a large deformation range, even at low temperatures. 
Good Weatherability: It is highly resistant to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, ozone, and moisture, which enables it to retain its properties when exposed to outdoor elements for extended periods. 
Low Toxicity and Biocompatibility: Silicone is generally non-toxic and has excellent biocompatibility, making it safe for use in contact with the human body. 
Excellent Flame Retardancy: With the addition of flame-retardant additives, certain silicone products achieve UL94 V-0 certification, following the UL94 (USA) flammability standard
Fire Resistance: Some silicone-based materials have good fire-resistant properties, which can slow down the spread of fire and release fewer harmful fumes. 
High Clarity & Colorability

What are the common applications of silicone?
Silicone has a wide range of applications in various fields due to its excellent properties, such as high temperature resistance, chemical stability, and biocompatibility. The following are some of its common applications:

Medical Field: 
Catheters, tubing
Medical seals
Drug-delivery systems.
Electronics and Electrical Industry
Insulating wires, cables
Electronic components
Semiconductor chip encapsulation
Automotive Industry
Weather stripping and seals
Engine gaskets and seals
Electrical connector seals
Vibration-damping engine mounts
Aerospace and Aviation
Aircraft engine seals
Fuel system components
Cockpit window seals
High-temperature seals and gaskets for cabin and engine environments.
Construction Industry
Window glazing seals
Window and door weatherstripping
Expansion joint fillers
Food and Beverage Industry
food-grade seals, gaskets

Your Trusted Partner for Custom Silicone Solutions
Guangdong Zhongxiang New Materials Co.,ltd is a specialized manufacturer of precision silicone rubber components. Renowned for its exceptional stability across a vast temperature range and inherent biocompatibility, silicone is the material of choice for demanding applications. We harness these properties to engineer custom seals, gaskets, and profiles that deliver reliability where it matters most.
Our Silicone Rubber Manufacturing Capabilities
We transform raw silicone into complex, high-value components through our advanced processes:
Custom molded silicone parts
Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) Injection Molding
Silicone Rubber Extrusion
Adhesive back Rubber

ZYX Rubber is a professional manufacturer of high-performance silicone rubber parts in China. We provide custom-molded and extruded seals, gaskets, and assemblies for rail transit, auto parts, system windows and doors, new energy, electrical equipment, electrical appliances, lighting, and other applications. Our experts will help you select the appropriate silicone grade (e.g., medical grade, food grade, LSR) to meet your specific needs, ensuring materials comply with FDA, UL, and RoHS standards. We guarantee optimized performance and cost-effective production for your parts. Do you have a project that demands the unique properties of silicone? Contact our technical team today for a free consultation and quote. Let us help you engineer the perfect solution.