Silicone Rubber

Applications and Uses

Silicone Rubber’s special features originated from its unique molecular structure that they can carry both inorganic and organic properties. With these unique characteristics, silicone rubber is widely used in industries such as aerospace, automotive, construction, medical, E&E, food processing etc.

Electronics/Electrical: Silicone rubber is used for making electrical insulating tapes, adhesives, sealants, circuit boards coating, varnishes, resins, lubricants, optical fiber coatings and many other semiconductor-grade silicon and silicon-source chemicals. Keyboards, keypads, hard coating housings for computers, telephones, facsimile machines, and home entertainment equipment are all made by silicone rubber.

Aerospace: Silicone rubber has excellent ability to resist extreme temperatures, which makes it critical in the aviation industry. Silicone adhesives are regularly used to seal the most vital parts of planes like fuel tanks, doors, windows, vent ducts, etc.

Automotive: Silicone rubber which is heat, oil and fuel-resistant is used for molding into a variety of durable parts used in automobile. There are sealants and adhesives, materials for noise, specialty lubricants, materials for vibration, harshness, automotive polishes made by silicone rubber.

Construction: In construction and building, adhesives, sealants and coatings made of silicone rubber make construction materials work better and longer. Silicone adhesives join diverse materials like glass, granite, concrete, steel, plastics etc. Silicone rubber is used for making construction adhesive /sealants, architectural coatings, silicone roof coatings, water repellents, concrete pavement joint sealants etc.

Food contact: Silicone rubber is highly inert and does not react with most chemicals and isn’t available to participate in biological processes allowing it to be used in many medical applications including medical implants. It is biocompatible, hypoallergenic, which makes it suitable for baby care products, and food contact in general.

Medical products: Since silicone rubber is proven to be resistant to bacteria, it's commonly used in healthcare products. It's also essential for infant care products, manufacturing of prosthetics, and other medical equipment with high safety standards. Silicone rubber is popular for making medical-grade tubing, defoamers, adhesives and fluids.

Leather and Textiles: Another application of silicone rubber is in making waterproofing treatments and fiber chemicals.

Paints and Coatings: Silicone rubber is used in making paints, enamels, finishes and abrasion resistant coatings for plastics.

Personal and Household Care: Silicone rubber emulsions, fluids, surfactants, and powder treatments are important ingredients in skin lotions, hair care products, anti-perspirants, cosmetics, shaving creams, fabric treatments, starches, laundry products and more.

Office printing market: Silicone rubber for rollers has the advantages of low hardness, good flexibility, low compression set, long service life and good wear resistance, anti-static, and moisture resistance.

Gaskets and Seals: Silicone gaskets and seals are commonly used to prevent leaks between mechanical parts. In general, rubber is an excellent material because of its resistance to several liquids, its flexibility, and compressibility. Silicone is an excellent sealing material because of its resistance to chemicals and ability to withstand a range of temperatures.

Explore some of the application in detail in the table below: