Silicone Elastomers

Peter Jerschow
(Wacker-Chemie GmbH)

ISBN: 1-85957-297-9

Silicone Elastomers

Contents
1.

Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 5
1.1 Nomenclature....................................................................................................................................... 5

2.

Silicone Elastomers Market .................................................................................................................... 6

3.

Applications for Silicone Elastomers ..................................................................................................... 7

4.

5.

3.1

Automotive ..................................................................................................................................... 7

3.2

Healthcare and Medical .................................................................................................................. 9

3.3

Wire and Cable ..............................................................................................................................11

3.4

Sanitary, Household and Leisure .................................................................................................. 13

3.5

Transmission and Distribution ...................................................................................................... 16

3.6

Electronics .................................................................................................................................... 17

3.7

Mould Making .............................................................................................................................. 20

3.8

Food Sector ................................................................................................................................... 21

3.9

Other
3.9.1
3.9.2
3.9.3
3.9.4
3.9.5

............................................................................................................................................. 23
Safety Applications ........................................................................................................... 23
Aerospace ......................................................................................................................... 24
Building Industry .............................................................................................................. 24
Pharmaceutical ................................................................................................................. 24
Spin Casting...................................................................................................................... 24

Composition and Function of Silicone Elastomers............................................................................. 25

4.1

Introduction and Classifications ................................................................................................... 25

4.2

Properties of Silicone Elastomers ................................................................................................. 25

4.3

Chemistry and Curing Mechanisms of Silicone Elastomers ........................................................ 26

Room Temperature Vulcanising Silicone Elastomers ........................................................................ 27

5.1

General .......................................................................................................................................... 27

5.2

Condensation Curing RTVs .......................................................................................................... 28

5.3

RTV-1 for CIPG and FIPG ........................................................................................................... 28

5.4

RTV-1 for Baking Tray Coatings .................................................................................................. 29

5.5

Adhesive RTV-1 Materials ........................................................................................................... 29

5.6

Condensation Curing RTV-2 Systems .......................................................................................... 31

5.7

Mould Making Condensation Curing RTV-2 Materials ............................................................... 31

5.7.1 Speciality Mould Making RTV-2 Materials ..................................................................... 32

5.8

Condensation Curing RTV-2 Compounds for Encapsulation ...................................................... 32

5.9

Adhesives and Sealants Based on Condensation Curing RTV-2 Compounds ............................. 33

5.10 Addition Curing RTV-2 Systems .................................................................................................. 33

Silicone Elastomers

5.11 Silicone Gels ................................................................................................................................. 34

5.12 Addition Curing Systems for Mould Making ............................................................................... 35
5.13 Addition Cured RTV-2 Systems for Encapsulation ...................................................................... 35
5.14 Addition Cured RTV-2 Adhesives and Sealants ........................................................................... 36
5.15 Addition Cured RTV-2 Foam for Compressible Gaskets ............................................................. 36
6.

7.

Liquid Silicone Rubber ......................................................................................................................... 37

6.1

General .......................................................................................................................................... 37

6.2

Curing Mechanism of Liquid Silicone Rubbers ........................................................................... 37

6.3

Standard Liquid Silicone Rubbers ................................................................................................ 38

6.4

Speciality LRs ............................................................................................................................... 39

6.4.1 High Tear LR .................................................................................................................... 39
6.4.2 No Post Cure LR .............................................................................................................. 39
6.4.3 Heat Stabilised LR ............................................................................................................ 40
6.4.4 Coolant Resistant LR (NPC) ............................................................................................ 41
6.4.5 Self Lubricating LR (NPC) .............................................................................................. 41
6.4.6 Oil Resistant LR (NPC) .................................................................................................... 42
6.4.7 Self Adhesive LR .............................................................................................................. 42
6.4.8 Electrically Conductive (Antistatic Silicone!) LR ........................................................... 46
6.4.9 Flame Retardant LR ......................................................................................................... 46
6.4.10 Extra Liquid Rubber (XLR) ........................................................................................... 47
6.4.11 Other Types of LR ............................................................................................................ 47

6.5

Pigment Pastes .............................................................................................................................. 47

Solid Silicone Rubber ............................................................................................................................ 47

7.1

General .......................................................................................................................................... 47

7.2

Curing Mechanisms of Solid Silicone Rubbers............................................................................ 48

7.2.1 Addition Cure ................................................................................................................... 48
7.2.2 Peroxide Cure ................................................................................................................... 49

7.3

Standard Solid Silicone Rubbers .................................................................................................. 49

7.4

Speciality HTV (all peroxide) ...................................................................................................... 50

7.4.1 High Tear HTV ................................................................................................................. 50
7.4.2 Economy High Tear HTV ................................................................................................ 50
7.4.3 Extrusion HTV ................................................................................................................. 50
7.4.4 Cable HTV ........................................................................................................................ 50
7.4.5 Oil Resistant HTV (NPC) ................................................................................................. 50
7.4.6 Electrically Conductive HTV ........................................................................................... 51
7.4.7 Super Heat Stable HTV .................................................................................................... 51
7.4.8 High Green Strength/Coolant Resistant HTV .................................................................. 52
7.4.9 Steam Resistant HTV ....................................................................................................... 52
7.4.10 Heat Conductive HTV ...................................................................................................... 52
7.4.11 HTV for Transmission and Distribution (T&D) Applications ......................................... 53

7.5

Addition Cured HTV .................................................................................................................... 53

7.5.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 53
7.5.2 Addition Curing ................................................................................................................ 53

Silicone Elastomers

7.5.3
7.5.4
7.5.5
7.5.6
7.5.7
8.

9.

Moulding: 1K Addition Cured HTV ................................................................................ 54

Moulding: 1K Self Adhesive Addition Cured HTV ......................................................... 55
Moulding: 2K Addition Cured HTV ................................................................................ 55
Extrusion HTV ................................................................................................................. 56
Post Curing of Addition Cured HTV ............................................................................... 56

Processing Silicone Elastomers ............................................................................................................ 56

8.1

RTV-1 Systems ............................................................................................................................. 56

8.2

RTV-2 Systems ............................................................................................................................. 56

8.2.1 Mould Making: Flexible Moulds ..................................................................................... 57
8.2.2 Mould Making: Block Moulds ......................................................................................... 58
8.2.3 Mould Making: Skin Moulds ........................................................................................... 58

8.3

LR and HTV ................................................................................................................................. 58

8.3.1 Press Curing HTV ............................................................................................................ 58
8.3.2 Transfer Moulding HTV ................................................................................................... 58
8.3.3 Injection Moulding LR and HTV ..................................................................................... 59
8.3.4 Extrusion of HTV ............................................................................................................. 62
8.3.5 Moulding HTV (General) ................................................................................................. 62
8.3.6 Calendering HTV ............................................................................................................. 63
8.3.7 Rollers ............................................................................................................................... 64
8.3.8 Bonding ............................................................................................................................ 64

Summary ................................................................................................................................................ 64

Additional References ................................................................................................................................... 65

Abbreviations and Acronyms ....................................................................................................................... 65
References from the Rapra Abstracts Database .............................................................................................. 67
Subject Index ....................................................................................................................................................... 153

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Rapra Technology Limited or the editor. The series is published on the basis that no responsibility or
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utilisation in any form of any material contained therein.

Silicone Elastomers

Silicone Elastomers

1 Introduction

1.1 Nomenclature

Silicone elastomers are elastic substances which

contain linear silicone polymers crosslinked in a 3dimensional network.

The nomenclature classifies silicone elastomers by their

curing mechanism and curing conditions. Silicone
rubbers are essentially divided into two groups of
materials, i.e., room temperature vulcanising (RTV) and
high temperature vulcanising (HTV). RTV systems are
able to cure at room temperature and HTV systems at
temperatures well above 100 C. A number in the name
indicates the number of components that upon mixing
will form a curable composition, e.g., RTV-2.

In most cases this network also contains a filler which

acts as a reinforcing agent or as an additive for certain
mechanical, chemical or physical properties.
In general all silicones (usually we refer to silicones as
polydimethyl siloxanes) are noted for their high thermal
stability, biocompatibility, hydrophobic nature,
electrical and release properties. When silicones are
crosslinked to form a silicone rubber their characteristic
properties are still prevalent. Hence silicone elastomers
can be widely used in a great variety of applications.
Some examples are shown in Table 1. These will be
described in more detail when concentrating on specific
groups of materials and applications.
We will not refer too much to silicone adhesives in
this article, in spite of the fact that they form silicone
elastomers when being cured. These materials have
been referred to extensively in the literature (a.1, a.2).

HTV rubbers are mainly so-called solid silicone rubbers.

They have a very high viscosity in the uncured state and
appear as solids. This behaviour has also led to the
creation of the term High Consistency Rubber (HCR).
Approximately 25 years ago a new group of materials
appeared that was intended for processing in injection
moulding machines. Because of their low viscosity and
paste-like behaviour they were named liquid silicone
rubbers (LSR) or simply liquid rubbers (LR). It is
common to use LSR or LR as an abbreviation instead
of HTV, even though they vulcanise at high
temperatures as in the case of solid silicone rubbers.

Table 1 Brief overview of applications for silicone elastomers

Application area

Applications

Automotive

Exhaust pipe hangers

Crank shaft seals
Radiator seals
Ignition cables
Connector seals
Spark plug boots

Medical

Catheters
Respiration masks
Various valves (e.g., dialysis apparatus)
Anaesthetic tubing (composite)
Body contact electrodes
X-ray opaque shunts
Various pads

Wire and cable

Wear resistant cables

Instrument cables
Safety signal cables
Safety power cables
Battery cables
Economy grade cables
Heat resistant cables
Cable sleeving, wear resistant
Cables from silicone rubber pellets

continued

Silicone Elastomers

Table 1 Brief overview of applications for silicone elastomers continued

Application area

Applications

Sanitary and household

Gaskets in tap water equipment

Gaskets for toilets
O-rings (composite)
Various valves

Transmission and distribution (T & D)

Electronics

Medium and high voltage insulators

Medium and high voltage cable accessories
Anode caps and cables
Key pads (composite)
Various gaskets
Encapsulation
Coatings
Adhesives
Pottings

Food appliances

Food dispensing valves

Various gaskets
Baby care articles

Mould making

Prototyping
Models for design and/or display
Functional models
Pre-series models
Working moulds for gypsum
Plaster moulding
Ornaments and window frames
Moulded furniture parts
Imitation leather moulds
Moulds for shaped foodstuffs (e.g., chocolate)
Do-it-yourself (DIY) applications
Archaeological applications
Restoration

For the most part all LR materials are 2 component

systems which cure after mixing and at elevated
temperatures.

In this article I will concentrate on applications,

requirements and materials and why to choose silicone
elastomers in the cases discussed.

In summary the silicone industry uses the terms RTV1, RTV-2, LR or LSR, HTV or HCR. These refer to the
material categories as follows:

The second half of this review will concentrate on the

various types of silicone elastomers, their chemistry
and processing.

RTV-1

Room temperature vulcanising, one

component

RTV-2

Room temperature vulcanising, two

component

2 Silicone Elastomers Market

HTV

LR

High temperature vulcanising, solid

silicone rubber, high consistency rubber
Liquid rubber, liquid silicone rubber (which
is also cured at high temperatures).

In 1999 the global market consumed approximately

170,000 tons of silicone elastomers.
Figure 1 shows the market shares between the material
categories. Among all silicone elastomers LR exhibits
the highest growth rate and HTV has the highest portion
of the market.