Elastomerics Blog

Stockwell Elastomerics specializes in solving gasket and cushioning pad challenges with various silicones, a group of semi-inorganic polymers with distinct properties and diverse applications. For engineers and part designers, understanding the benefits of silicone elastomers is critical for unlocking their full potential.

Temperature Resistance

Silicone performs well under extreme temperature conditions and maintains its properties over a wide temperature range. By contrast, many organic polymers degrade or lose their resiliency at high temperatures or elasticity at low temperatures.

Chemical Resistance

Silicone provides chemical resistance to moderate or oxidizing chemicals. Silicone is also chemically compatible with water and many aqueous solutions. When fluorine groups are added to the silicone polymer chain, the resulting fluorosilicone can resist non-polar solvents, acids, oils, and fuels.

Flexibility and Elasticity

Even at extreme temperatures, silicone is highly flexible and elastic. Its ability to stretch and return to its original shape without permanent deformation (compression set) makes them well suited for dynamic sealing and shock absorption.

Durability and Longevity

Unlike organic materials, silicone does not readily degrade or become brittle. It resists thermal aging, moisture, ozone, and ultraviolet (UV) light. This makes silicone a good choice for applications such as the UV resistant gaskets that are used in electrical enclosures.

Electrical Insulation

Silicone has a higher dielectric strength than other elastomers and is generally considered to be a better electrical insulator. Applications include dielectric barrier pads and gaskets for radome antennas and high power electronics.

Versatility

Modifications to the chemistry can be made to enhance many different properties of silicone, such as tear resistance, tensile strength, compression set. For example, silicone can be filled with metal particles that make it electrically conductive instead of electrically insulating. It is also available as high consistency rubber (HCR) or liquid silicone rubber (LSR), and as sponge and solid materials. Platinum curing or peroxide curing can be used.

Standards and Specifications

Silicone can be formulated to meet standards such as USP Class VI for biocompatibility or UL 94V-0 flame resistance, to name a few. Specifications-grade materials are available that meet industrial, military, and aerospace requirements such as ASTM, AMS, MIL-DTL, and MIL-SPEC.

Design Freedom

Finally, silicone provides engineers and part designers with considerable design freedom. Cellular versions or soft durometer silicone is available for challenging sealing applications. They support a variety of custom gasket manufacturing processes and are available in custom formulated compounds that can be tailored for hardness, color, and other attributes to meet application requirements.

Various Silicones are In Stock and Ready to Fabricate

Stockwell Elastomerics specializes in silicone materials and stocks hundreds of different types of materials that can be fabricated into products such as gaskets and cushioning pads. For additional information, contact the Stockwell Elastomerics Applications Engineering Team.