subject: Where Is Silicone Moulding Used In Everyday Life? [print this page] Moulded silicone rubber is used in a number of applications in daily life, many of which you may not be aware of.
They are often on hand without people even realising it.
Here are 10 examples of where silicone rubber moulding is used by you and me everyday.
Modern smartphones are much more durable than they used to be. The silicone moulding wraps easily around the device to prevent scratches and falls.
The keypad on your domestic alarm is most likely made from silicone. This allows for a backlight and to more easily press the button.
Remote controls often have silicone keypads, allows for the keyboard to light up when the keys are depressed.
With exercise at home becoming ever more popular, the rubber grips on exercise machines are often made from silicone to make them more comfortable for the user.
Keyrings are made in every shape and style and can be personalised with a company name or logo as a powerful marketing device.
Modern cooks may choose silicone moulding cookware, for a new style of baking.
People who use ink pens on a regular basis have silicone moulding rubber near the base of their pens to give a non-slip grip that makes writing easier.
Silicone rubber gaskets
Another everyday item, which is slightly more discreet, is silicone rubber gaskets.
They can be purchased in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Typically used in all kinds of businesses and domestic situations, rubber gaskets are extremely useful.
They are used to prevent leakages of air or water, acting as an effective seal.
Silicone rubber attributes
Silicone rubber is effective because of its ability to withstand extreme temperatures, its flexibility and its relative ability to be unaffected by outside influences.
Frequently used for adhesives, sealants, health, cookware, padding as well as lubes, silicone is one of the most useful man made materials available.
Silicone gaskets tend to be mechanised seals employed to avoid loss involving a couple of materials.
Silicone rubber (or, to give it its scientific name, Poly-Siloxane) is an amazing material.
It is an inorganic synthetic elastomer, made from a cross-linked silicon-based polymer.
As such, it offers a unique combination of chemical and mechanical properties, which organic elastomers cannot match.
Widely used in a wide variety of industries, it is generally non-reactive, stable, and resistant to extreme environments, stresses and temperatures.
Most impressively, it can be formulated to operate consistently from 60C to +300C while still maintaining its useful properties.
Silicone rubbers mechanical properties include - tensile strength, elongation, tear strength and compression set.
When used in extreme temperatures, these qualities make the material far superior to conventional organic rubbers.
These inferior materials carbon composition can leave them susceptible to ozone, UV, heat and other ageing factors factors that silicone rubber can easily withstand.
This makes silicone the most suitable elastomer for many applications.
It is also highly inert, and doesnt react with most chemicals or the environment - so it is ideal for many food and medical applications.
