SILICONE PROTOTYPING
CHEMICAL COMPATIBILITY OF LIQUID SILICONE RUBBER
The chemical composition of Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) makes it the perfect candidate for silicone prototyping. It is unique in comparison to many common elastomers. The inherent properties of LSR make it an ideal choice for uses in specific chemical environments, as well as for silicone prototyping.
The silicone-oxygen backbone of LSR has a higher bond strength than that of polyethylene or of a carbon-based material, and it is therefore mostly chemically inert. This inertness, as well as its natural hypoallergenic properties, make LSR a prime candidate for food, medical applications, and silicone prototyping.
In comparison with other rubber materials, LSR is exceptionally compatible with many diluted solutions of inorganic acids and bases (e.g., acetic acid, arsenic acid, boric acid, sulfuric acid, tartaric acid). Extending the variety of uses of LSR products, such as hosing and seals, to the medical, food manufacturing, and automotive industries, LSR can be used as a propellant in food products, as filler for vehicle airbags or for silicone prototyping. The extensive list of LSR-compatible materials also includes ammonium hydroxide, ammonium phosphate, and alcohol bases, which are common ingredients of many household products.
In addition, LSR is highly suitable for use with water and ozone (which can be used in small quantities as a treatment for drinking water). This broadens the potential uses for LSR hoses, bellows, seals, and other components for municipal water systems or even agricultural irrigation systems. While this application may not seem exceptional, many other seal and hose materials expand over time, age, and crack under differential flow conditions or are unable to maintain mechanical integrity under varying internal and external temperatures. This same concept extends to the automotive industry, where LSR’s compatibility with many industry-standard oils and high-temperature air makes it an ideal candidate for gaskets, bellows, and electrical connectors among other applications.