Silicone Rubber

Silicone Rubber
 Silicone rubber is rubber-like material or elastomer
which is made of silicone, carbon, oxygen and
hydrogen.
 The main backbone is made of repeating silicone to
oxygen bond (siloxane bonds) with organic side groups
such as methyl, phenyl or vinyl.
 The basic repeating unit known as siloxane and most
common silicone is polydimethylsilioxane.
 Silicone rubber is reliable and cost effective.
 In cross- linking, silicone rubber are saturated, they
can be only vulcanized by peroxide cross-linking agent
such as dibenzoyl peroxide.
 The efficiency of peroxide cross-linking can be
increased by small amount of co-monomer containing
vinyl group into the polymer.
Chemical structure

Figure 1 shows repeating units and chain of silicon rubber

Polysiloxanes differ from other polymers in that their

backbones consist of Si-O-Si units unlike many other polymers
that contain carbon backbones. Polysiloxanes is very flexible due
to large bond angles and bond lengths. the silicon-oxygen bond is
more stable than the carbon-oxygen bond due to its higher bond
energy.
Properties
 Mechanical properties
Silicone rubbers have high tear and tensile strength,
good elongation, great flexibility and a durometer range
of 30-80 Shore A. The softest durometers available are
reinforced gels.
 Low temperature flexibility
It has excellent low temperature flexibility (-50 °C ).
(PVMQ grade have better than MQ and PMQ grade
grade (-100 °C).
 Thermal properties
Silicone rubber has excellent thermal stability which is it not
decomposed even up to (350-400°C). Have higher ozone and
UV resistance than other rubbers.
 Resistance to chemical
Silicones resist water, oxidation and many chemicals,
including some acids and alkali solutions. Concentrated
acids, solvents, oils and fuels have a negative effect on
silicone rubber and should not be used with silicone
 Other properties
Acts as hydrophobic nature and adhesive for refrigerator
profiles. Good electrical insulator than other rubbers. Higher
liquid and gaseous permeability rate. Good biocompability.