High temperatures are becoming more and more common in many industries, and high-temperature silicone rubber can fit high-temperature environments very well. This article will talk about this kind of silicone rubber from different aspects. If you are sourcing this material that can be used in high temperatures, this article may help you.
What Is High-Temperature Silicone Rubber
From a perspective of molecular structure, the main chain of silicone rubber is made up of alternating silicon (Si) and oxygen (O) atoms, and this chain forms a stable Si-O-Si structure. The bond energy of this chemical bond is higher than the C-C bonds in regular rubber, so it will not easily break at high temperatures.
Therefore, even if it is exposed to environments that can reach above 200°C for a long time, silicone rubber can still stay stable. If you want to use the silicone rubber in even higher temperature environments, heat-resistant fillers and stabilizers can be added to it to improve its heat resistance.
High Temperature Silicone Rubber vs. Regular Silicone Rubber
High-temperature silicone rubber and regular silicone rubber are very different from each other in heat resistance. Regular silicone rubber is usually suitable for environments where the working temperature will not be over 200°C. But high-temperature silicone rubber can be used at temperatures between 200°C and 300°C.
Regular rubber is made of C-C chains, which can easily harden, become brittle, and lose performance under long-term high heat. High-temperature silicone rubber, on the other hand, is made of Si-O-Si chains, which can maintain stable performance under the same conditions.
As a result, if you plan to use it frequently in high-temperature environments, high-temperature rubber is the better choice.
Advantages of High-Temperature Silicone Rubber
Heat Resistance
The biggest advantage of high-temperature resistant silicone rubber is that it can stay stable in high-temperature environments.
High-temperature silicone rubber can work in environments ranging from 200°C to 250°C for a long time and will not easily soften, harden, crack, or lose flexibility. Even when exposed to higher temperatures for a long time, it can still maintain its physical and chemical performance to some extent.
However, its high-temperature resistance can be influenced by many factors. For example, if used in high temperatures for a very long time will cause material aging. The material formula can influence the heat resistance as well.
Moreover, the manufacturing process also influences heat resistance. Generally, silicone that has gone through better vulcanization usually has better performance at high temperatures. By the way, if it’s exposed to chemicals, UV, or ozone at the same time, it may be damaged more quickly.
Aging Resistance
Different from many traditional rubbers, high-temperature silicone rubber has better aging resistance. Aging means that the material will become hard, cracked, powdery, discolored, or lose flexibility after long-term use.
High-temperature silicone rubber can keep its functions and performance when it is exposed to sunlight, oxygen, ozone, and high temperatures for a long time. It can keep its original softness and entire surface and is less likely to have cracks or become crisp.
Therefore, if you are sourcing rubber that can stay stable in high temperatures for long-term use, high-temperature silicone rubber is a good choice.
Electric Insulation
High-temperature silicone rubber also has good electrical insulation.
For electronic devices, it can help prevent current leakage and short circuits. For electrical systems that need to keep stable over a long time, high-temperature silicone rubber can keep electrical safety to some extent. This can reduce the costs of failure and maintenance caused by insulation breakdown.
If you’re looking to buy insulating elements for electronic equipment, electrical systems, or the new energy industry, high-temperature silicone rubber is the best choice.
Chemical Resistance
High-temperature silicone rubber can remain stable when exposed to most chemicals and maintain its performance in complex environments.
When it comes into direct contact with water, steam, cleaning agents, and some acids and bases, it will not swell, deform, crack, or lose its performance, so it can be used for a longer time.
But if it’s exposed to or even soaked in strong acids, strong bases, or some special solvents, it can still influence the silicone rubber’s performance. So, you should care
about these problems when you’re sourcing high-temperature silicone rubber.
Applications of High-Temperature Silicone Rubber
Automotive, Industrial Equipment, and Kitchen Appliances
High-temperature silicone rubber is often used in cars, industrial equipment, and kitchen appliances. They need to work in high temperatures.
In the automotive industry, it’s often used in engine seals, intake system parts, and other high-temperature sealing parts to help keep equipment running normally.
In industrial equipment, high-temperature silicone rubber is used in gaskets, O-rings, and many heat-resistant parts.
In kitchen appliances, high-temperature silicone rubber is often used in oven seals, air fryer accessories, and other parts that will be heated.
Since high-temperature silicone rubber can stay stable in high temperatures, it is suitable for these applications very well. Using it and checking its performance on time can make sure that these parts will not cause problems of safety. If you are targeting these industries, you can take high-temperature silicone rubber into account.
Construction, Energy, and Telecommunications
In the construction, energy, and communication industries, many parts need to be exposed to outdoor environments for a long time. So it is important to choose a durable material for these parts, and high-temperature silicone rubber is very suitable. When exposed to sunlight, rain, wind, sand, and ozone, it will not get hard or cracked easily.
Therefore, it’s often used in outdoor seals, solar equipment gaskets and such outdoor silicone sealing parts for waterproof pergolas. If you are sourcing materials for these things, high-temperature silicone rubber is a good choice for you.
Electronics, Electrical, and New Energy Industries
There are many conductive components in electronic, electrical, and new energy equipment. High-temperature resistant silicone rubber has good electric insulation, so it is often used in these fields. It can prevent leakage, short circuits, and other electrical faults.
Due to this advantage, it is widely used in cable sheaths, insulation sleeves, connector seals, and insulation components in new energy vehicle battery systems.
As the industries of new energy vehicles, energy storage systems, and smart electronic devices have been developing quickly, the use of high-temperature silicone in these fields is becoming more common.
Food, Beverage, Pharmaceutical, and Chemical Industries
In the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries, many components will directly contact water, steam, cleaning agents, and many chemicals, so the material’s chemical resistance is very important.
High-temperature-resistant silicone rubber has a good performance in these chemical environments, and it will not deform, crack, or degrade because of these chemicals. As a result, it is often used in food-grade silicone tubes, pharmaceutical equipment seals, conveyor system components, and sealing products in many types of processing equipment.
So if you are sourcing materials used in equipment that needs to be cleaned frequently and used for a long time, you can choose high-temperature silicone rubber to improve the safety and stability.
How to Choose a Suitable High-Temperature Silicone Rubber
Temperature Range
When choosing a high-temperature silicone rubber, you need to think about the maximum temperature of the environment it will be used in. High-temperature silicone rubber can generally stay stable in a temperature range of -60°C to 300 °C, but some silicone rubbers may have a narrower heat-resistance temperature range.
Chemical Exposure
If silicone rubber needs to contact or even be soaked in chemicals for a long time, you should think about whether it will react with these chemicals. Because this may damage the high-temperature silicone rubber and may cause safety problems.
So when you are choosing a material that will be used in complex environments, it is important to know whether the material will react with the chemicals.
Material Grade
Different industries have different material standards for high-temperature silicone rubber.
The industrial sector usually uses industrial-grade silicone rubber, the food industry needs to use food-grade silicone rubber, and the medical field needs to use medical-grade silicone rubber.
When purchasing, you must choose the material grade of the high-temperature silicone rubber according to the industries or fields in which it will be used. You should also check the regulations of the target market, such as the FDA and LFGB.
FAQ
What Hardness Options Are Available for High-Temperature Silicone Rubber?
The common hardness ranges from 20 to 80 Shore A. The lower the hardness, the softer it is. The higher the hardness, the firmer it is. You can choose the hardness according to the applications.
Can High-Temperature Silicone Rubber Be Customized?
Yes. Our company offers high-temperature silicone rubber customization services. We can customize the size, color, pattern, hardness, and other features according to your requirements. These figures need to be ascertained according to the practical applications.
How Long Can High-Temperature Silicone Rubber Be Used?
The lifespan can be influenced by the working temperatures, the substances it comes into contact with, and the environment it’s used in. Generally, higher temperatures will make the aging process of a high-temperature silicone rubber faster.
Is High-Temperature Silicone Rubber Suitable for Dynamic or Static Sealing?
Both are possible, but most silicone products are more commonly used in static sealing situations. If the silicone rubber needs to move or rub frequently, it’s better for you to check with the supplier to make sure that the material is suitable for dynamic use.
Can High-Temperature Silicone Rubber Be Used in Low-Temperature Environments?
Yes. Except for being resistant to high temperatures, silicone rubber can also maintain good physical and chemical performance at low temperatures. It will not easily become brittle in cold environments. When choosing materials that need to be used in both high and low temperatures, high-temperature silicone rubber is a good choice.
Does High-Temperature Silicone Rubber Have an Odor?
Normally, it doesn’t. Fully vulcanized high-temperature silicone rubber usually has a lighter smell. But if you are to use the silicone rubber in food-related fields, you’d better check the local regulations and standards in advance to make sure that your products can enter the market smoothly.
Can High-Temperature Silicone Rubber Be Used under Long-Term Pressure?
Yeah, but if it is pressed for too long, it might cause permanent deformation, so it is important to choose the right formula and hardness according to the sealing needs. For parts that will be pressed for a long time, you can ask the supplier to provide pressure deformation test reports.
Final Thoughts
High-temperature silicone rubber is widely used in many industries because of its good heat resistance, aging resistance, electric insulation, and chemical resistance. Moreover, it can be used in low-temperature environments as well. If you are sourcing reliable high-temperature silicone rubber, contact us to get professional advice.
