What Is a Silicone Rubber Sheet?
A silicone rubber sheet is a thin sheet of silicone rubber processed into various shapes with different properties.
It finds applications in a wide range of uses, from everyday necessities to industrial products, and offers diverse functionalities. The natural color of silicone sheets is translucent milky white, but they can be dyed, providing a variety of color options. Different manufacturers may refer to it as a “silicone rubber sheet” or simply a “silicone sheet,” but they all refer to the same material.
Uses of Silicone Sheeting
Silicone sheets are highly versatile and serve various purposes in the following applications:
1. Cushioning and protective materials for precision equipment
When silicone sheets are processed to a thickness as thin as 100 μm and achieve a transparency of 95%, similar to that of glass, they can be used as cushioning materials for precision equipment and protective films for LCD screens and touch panels. Their high elasticity and thin film form allow them to conform to and adhere to free-curved surfaces.
2. Piping Protection
Raw silicone rubber, the material used for silicone sheets, is resistant to ozone, erosion, and ultraviolet rays, making it suitable as a protective material for indoor and outdoor piping. A caterpillar-type silicone sheet is typically used for piping protection.
3. Everyday Items
Silicone sheets, being chemically stable and physiologically inert, have no adverse effects on the human body. They are used in various kitchen utensils and baby products due to their colorless, odorless, and transparent properties.
4. Non-Slip Surfaces
Non-slip trays attached to the bottoms of PCs and smartphones or used inside automobiles are often made of silicone rubber. These non-slip surfaces have a convex shape. Silicone sheets in circular tube or square frame shapes are also used as gaskets.
Principles of Silicone Sheets
Silicone sheets are made from silicone rubber, an organic silicon compound based on the element Si (silicon), which is the second most abundant element on Earth after oxygen.
Silicone rubber exhibits excellent properties such as high-temperature oil resistance, heat resistance, cold resistance, electrical insulation, weather resistance, and chemical resistance. Its high electrical insulation properties make it suitable for use as a potting material to fill gaps between components on circuit boards and insulate them.
Additionally, silicone rubber’s high heat resistance and low thermal conductivity make it suitable for the handles of cooking utensils. Its exceptional chemical resistance makes it useful as a masking material for plating.
Types of Silicone Sheeting
Various types of silicone sheets are available for different applications, and it is crucial to select the appropriate type:
1. Adhesive Type
Some silicone sheets are adhesive and can be easily removed. Special double-sided tape or adhesive is used to attach them. Non-adhesive types require an additional adhesive layer.
2. High Tearing Strength Type
Silicone sheets can be weak against pulling forces, shear relatively easily, and have poor abrasion resistance. Silicone rubber sheets with increased tearing strength have been developed to address this issue, offering improved resistance to tearing and abrasion.
3. Other Types
In addition to the above types, there are:
- Conductive types achieved by adding conductive materials
- Heat-dissipating types suitable for cooling high-heat-generating components like CPUs
- Sponge-like materials with a foamed interior
- Flame-retardant versions
- Antimicrobial treatments for food-related applications
Additional Information on Silicone Rubber Sheets
1. Features of Silicone Rubber Sheets
Silicone rubber sheets offer the following key characteristics, making them suitable for a wide range of applications, including industrial products, general-purpose items, home appliances, and daily necessities. They have minimal impact on the human body.
- Excellent cold and heat resistance, maintaining elasticity within a temperature range of -100°C to 250°C
- Adjustable shore hardness from less than 10 degrees to more than 90 degrees
- Good water repellence and oxygen permeability at 25°C
- Processable in various ways, including full punching, kiss-cutting, slitting, veneering, and laminating, making them suitable for a wide range of products
2. Common Applications of Silicone Rubber
Silicone rubber, the raw material of silicone sheets, is shaped into specified forms and used for sealing purposes in home appliances that require airtightness, such as microwave oven and refrigerator doors.