Silicone Elastomers; a High-Performance Elastomer Characterized By a Combination of Properties
Silicone elastomers or silicone rubbers are a range of heat-stable elastic silicone materials used for a wide range of applications. Silicone elastomers are offered in various formulations such as open-cell foams, solids, closed-cell sponges, thermally conductive materials, and electrically conductive materials. They are non-reactive, stable, and capable of sustaining severe weather changes and temperatures, as well as are easy to manufacture and mold. Due to these properties, silicone elastomers are often used in industrial and commercial applications such as sealants, hoses, gaskets, ignition cables, adhesives, surgical equipment, tubing, sterilization equipment, baby care products, catheters, utensils, and other applications.
Silicone Elastomers are often used in the construction and healthcare industry. Silicone rubbers or elastomers are also used for electrical insulation as tape, sheet, cable, and wire coverings, extruded sleeving and moldings, unsupported, but more usually as coated glass-fiber cloths, tapes, and braided glass sleeving. The advantages of silicone elastomers over conventional rubber are numerous. Highly stretchable elastomers are of great interest in stretchable electronics, soft actuators, and medical devices. High stretchability allows for exceptional deformations. Highly extended strands in these elastomers are believed to be responsible for stress relaxation. These elastomers often undergo biaxial stretching and are also used in soft robotics.
In electronic applications, silicone elastomers play a major role in providing mechanical and electrical insulation. The flexibility and elasticity of these materials can be further enhanced by using particulate fillers. Silicone elastomers are largely nonconductive and have a wide range of applications in electronics, from power supply devices to circuit-based assemblies. They are also suitable for high-voltage applications. However, it is important to remember that they are non-conducting by nature. Aging infrastructure worldwide is a growing concern. Development efforts in developing countries focus on improving infrastructure. This is expected to spur the use of silicone elastomers in many areas.
Further, the increasing concern for energy efficiency and conservation & development is likely to drive the demand for these materials. This is especially true in emerging economies, where the construction industry is growing rapidly. Understanding the mechanical properties of silicone elastomers is crucial for the correct use and reporting of these materials. Stretchable electronics require high flexibility and elasticity, and measurements of this property are more challenging than for rigid elastomers. Tensile testing machines should be sensitive enough to adequately measure the softness and elasticity of these elastomers. Silicone elastomers or silicone rubbers are typically used in bulk productions.
Silicone elastomers are commonly employed in high-performance applications, particularly in hostile situations where other polymeric materials cannot be used. Silicone elastomers are compounded using reactive, straight-chained molecules together with a cross-linking agent and reinforcement to give good mechanical properties (elasticity, absorption, tear strength). They are available in different formulations and are discriminated by their crosslinking mechanisms. Moreover, they are suitable for high-performance applications in which exceptional purity is required. Silicone rubber is a high-performance elastomer characterized by an unusual combination of properties that range from high-temperature performance to durability, excellent electrical insulation properties as well as transparency.