Product Description:
What a difference an “e” makes! Silicon is the material of electronics. It’s hard and brittle and makes lousy gaskets. Silicone, on the other hand, is soft and elastic, which makes it a good choice in many gasket applications. Here’s what makes this polysiloxane material so useful.
Basic Chemistry
Silicon and silicone are closely related. Silicon is a naturally-occurring element while silicone is a polymer that combines silicon atoms with those of oxygen and the H3C hydrocarbon compound. The result is a soft, plastic-like material that springs back after being compressed.
More Silicone Properties
In addition to compressibility, other useful features of silicone include:
Poor adhesion, so it doesn’t mark surfaces
Low toxicity, making it useful for food and medical applications
Resists degradation by ultraviolet light (sunlight)
Low electrical conductivity
Repels water
Ozone resistant
Retains its flexibility over a temperature range of -94 to +392°F
These properties make silicone gaskets a good choice in a range of food, medical and electrical applications. It won’t taint foods and it handles a wider temperature range than many other gasket materials.
Silicone Weaknesses
In some regards, silicone performs less well as a gasket material than the alternatives. Some others have higher strength and better compression set recovery for instance. It’s also attacked by hydrocarbons like most oils and fuels, and resistance to acids and alkalines is poor. In short, unless you need the special properties of silicone there may be better alternatives.
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