What Is A Silicone Sheet?

What is a Silicone Sheet?  

In the previous article, we shared the applications of silicone products in the rail transit field. This article will explain what a silicone sheet is and what types it has.  

silicone sheet is a sheet-like or plate-like macromolecular elastic material made from silicone rubber as the core raw material, through processes such as vulcanization, calendering, and molding. It possesses properties like elasticity, high-temperature resistance, and aging resistance, and is widely used in industrial sealing, electronic insulation, medical protection, food contact, and other fields. The performance of a silicone sheet is mainly determined by its "base rubber + additives". Based on application scenarios and properties, it can be divided into the following common types:  

I. Classification by Manufacturing Process  

1. Ordinary Silicone Sheet  

Raw Material: Precipitated silicone rubber, which is produced by reacting water glass (sodium silicate) with acid to generate silica precipitate, followed by polymerization with organosilicon monomers.  

Features: The manufacturing process is relatively simple and the cost is low, but small amounts of impurities (such as sodium, iron, and other metal ions) may remain in the raw material.  

Applicable Scenarios**: General industrial scenarios with low requirements for purity, temperature resistance, and precision.  

2. Fumed Silicone Sheet  

Raw Material: Fumed silicone rubber, which is made by reacting silicon tetrachloride with oxygen and hydrogen in a high-temperature flame to produce fumed silica (nano-scale), then polymerizing it with organosilicon monomers.  

Features: The fumed silica produced by this method has extremely high purity, uniform particle size (nano-scale), and better dispersibility.  

Applicable Scenarios**: Scenarios with strict requirements for purity, temperature resistance, precision, and stability.  

II. Classification by Functional Requirements  

1. High-Temperature Resistant Silicone Sheet  

Core Performance: Resistant to high temperatures ranging from 150℃ to 350℃, and can work for a long time in high-temperature environments.  

Applicable Scenarios: Seals for automobile engine compartments, liners for oven inner tanks, gaskets for industrial high-temperature pipelines, etc.  

2. Low-Temperature Resistant Silicone Sheet  

Core Performance: Resistant to low temperatures ranging from -60℃ to -110℃, and can work for a long time in low-temperature environments.  

Applicable Scenarios: Seals for cold chain equipment (e.g., cold storage door seals), electronic insulation pads for polar environments, low-temperature components in aerospace, rail transit systems, etc.  

3. Conductive Silicone Sheet  

Core Performance: Possesses conductive properties while maintaining the elasticity and sealing performance of silicone.  

Applicable Scenarios: Electromagnetic shielding for electronic devices (e.g., inner liners of mobile phone casings), conductive connection gaskets (e.g., connections between chips and circuit boards), etc.  

4. Insulating Silicone Sheet  

Core Performance: High insulation, resistance to breakdown voltage, and blocking of current conduction.  

Applicable Scenarios: Insulation gaskets for high-voltage equipment (e.g., transformers, power distribution cabinets), insulation layers for precision electronic components (e.g., chip packaging), etc.  

5. Medical-Grade Silicone Sheet  

Core Performance: High purity, biocompatibility, and antibacterial properties.  

Raw Material Requirement**: Mostly uses fumed silicone rubber, and the production environment is a dust-free workshop.  

Applicable Scenarios: Protective covers for surgical instruments, outer layers of medical catheters, accessories for implantable medical devices (e.g., seals for artificial joints), etc.  

6. Food-Grade Silicone Sheet  

Core Performance: Non-toxic, odorless, resistant to food corrosion, and suitable for food contact.  

Applicable Scenarios: Liners for food processing equipment (e.g., cookie mold pads), kitchen silicone mats, components of baby food supplementary tools, etc.  

7. Flame-Retardant Silicone Sheet  

Core Performance: Possesses flame-retardant properties and low smoke toxicity.  

Applicable Scenarios: Inside electronic devices (e.g., computer hosts, charging piles), cable insulation layers for subways/high-speed rails, high-temperature fireproof seals, etc.  

In addition to the above-mentioned types of silicone sheets, our company also produces silicone sheets with other special functions, such as:  

1. Fabric-Reinforced Silicone Sheet  

It is a composite-structured silicone sheet. Its core feature is that a fiber cloth base material is embedded (or bonded) in the silicone layer. By combining "silicone elasticity" with "fabric strength", it makes up for the shortcomings of pure silicone sheets in mechanical properties such as tensile resistance, tear resistance, and deformation resistance. It is widely used in scenarios that require both strength and elasticity.  

2. Fabric-Textured Silicone Sheet  

It is a type of silicone sheet with a fabric-like texture (or imitation fabric texture) on its surface. Its core characteristic is that a concave-convex texture similar to fabric is formed on the silicone surface through process design. It not only retains the basic properties of silicone such as elasticity and temperature resistance but also optimizes functions like anti-slip, wear resistance, and fit through the surface texture. It is widely used in scenarios with clear requirements for surface touch and anti-slip performance.  

3. Foamed Silicone Sheet  

It is a flexible sheet material with a large number of tiny and uniform bubble structures inside the silicone, produced through a special process. Its core features include light weight, high elasticity, excellent cushioning and heat insulation performance, while retaining the basic advantages of silicone such as resistance to high and low temperatures, aging resistance, non-toxicity, and environmental friendliness. It is widely used in scenarios that require cushioning, sealing, heat insulation, or shock absorption.  

4. Silicone Sheet for Vacuum Laminating Machine  

This is a functional silicone sheet specially designed for vacuum laminating machines (commonly used in the surface laminating process of sheets in furniture, building materials, advertising, and other industries, such as lamination of PVC films, PET films, decorative paper, etc.). Its core function is to press the laminating material tightly and evenly onto the surface of the base material under vacuum negative pressure and heating environment, while protecting the laminating material from high-temperature damage and ensuring no bubbles/wrinkles during lamination.  

The above is an introduction to silicone sheets. As a functional material with diverse properties, the core value of silicone sheets lies in accurately solving practical needs in different scenarios through their own material advantages.

What is a silicone sheet?

In the previous article, we shared the applications of silicone products in the rail transit sector. This article will explain what silicone sheets are and what types they come in.

A silicone sheet is a sheet-like or plate-like polymer elastic material made from silicone rubber as the core raw material, through processes such as vulcanization, calendering, and molding. It possesses properties like elasticity, high-temperature resistance, and aging resistance, and is widely used in industrial sealing, electronic insulation, medical protection, food contact, and other fields. The performance of a silicone sheet is mainly determined by its "base rubber + additives". Based on its applications and properties, it can be divided into the following common types:

I. Classification by Manufacturing Process

1. Ordinary Silicone Sheets

Made from "precipitated silica gel", which is produced by the reaction of water glass (sodium silicate) with acid to form silica precipitate, followed by polymerization with organosilicon monomers. The manufacturing process is relatively simple and cost-effective, but the raw material may contain small amounts of residual impurities (such as sodium, iron, and other metal ions). Ordinary silicone sheets are suitable for general industrial scenarios that do not have strict requirements for purity, high-temperature resistance, or precision.

2. Fumed Silicone Sheets

Made from "fumed silica gel", which is produced by the reaction of silicon tetrachloride with oxygen and hydrogen in a high-temperature flame to form fumed silica (nanoscale), followed by polymerization with organosilicon monomers. The fumed silica produced by this method has extremely high purity, uniform particle size (nanoscale), and better dispersibility. Fumed silicone sheets are suitable for scenarios that have strict requirements for purity, high-temperature resistance, precision, and stability.

II. Classification by Functional Requirements

1. High-Temperature Resistant Silicone Sheets

Core Performance: Resistant to high temperatures ranging from 150°C to 350°C, without aging or hardening under high temperatures.

Application Scenarios: Seals in automobile engine compartments, liners for oven interiors, and gaskets for industrial high-temperature pipelines.

2. Low-Temperature Resistant Silicone Sheets

Core Performance: Resistant to low temperatures ranging from -60°C to -110°C, without embrittlement and maintaining elasticity under low temperatures.

Application Scenarios: Seals for cold chain equipment (e.g., cold storage door seals), electronic insulation pads for polar environments, and low-temperature components in aerospace applications.

3. Conductive Silicone Sheets

Core Performance: Possesses conductive properties while maintaining the elasticity and sealing performance of silicone.

Application Scenarios: Electromagnetic shielding for electronic devices (e.g., inner linings of mobile phone casings) and conductive connection gaskets (e.g., connections between chips and circuit boards).

4. Insulating Silicone Sheets

Core Performance: Features high insulation and resistance to breakdown voltage, blocking current conduction.

Application Scenarios: Insulation gaskets for high-voltage equipment (e.g., transformers, power distribution cabinets) and insulation layers for precision electronic components (e.g., chip packaging).

5. Medical-Grade Silicone Sheets

Core Performance: High purity, biocompatibility, and sterilization resistance.

Raw Material Requirements: Mostly made from fumed silica gel, produced in a dust-free workshop.

Application Scenarios: Protective covers for surgical instruments, outer layers of medical catheters, and accessories for implantable medical devices (e.g., seals for artificial joints).

6. Food-Grade Silicone Sheets

Core Performance: Non-toxic, odorless, resistant to food corrosion, and safe for food contact.

Application Scenarios: Liners for food processing equipment (e.g., cookie mold pads), kitchen silicone mats, and components for baby food preparation tools.

7. Flame-Retardant Silicone Sheets

Core Performance: Possesses flame-retardant properties, does not burn or self-extinguishes when exposed to fire, and produces low-toxicity smoke.

Application Scenarios: Internal components of electronic devices (e.g., computer hosts, charging piles), insulation layers for subway/high-speed rail cables, and high-temperature fireproof seals.

Our company manufactures all the above-mentioned types of silicone sheets. In addition, we also produce some special silicone sheets, such as:

1. Fabric-Reinforced Silicone Sheets

This is a composite-structured silicone sheet, characterized by embedding (or laminating) a fiber fabric base material in the silicone layer. By combining the "elasticity of silicone" with the "strength of fabric", it makes up for the shortcomings of pure silicone sheets in mechanical properties such as tensile strength, tear resistance, and deformation resistance. It is widely used in scenarios that require both strength and elasticity.

2. Fabric-Textured Silicone Sheets

These are silicone sheets with fabric-like textures (or simulated fabric textures) on the surface. Their core feature is the formation of fabric-like concave-convex textures on the silicone surface through process design. They not only retain the basic properties of silicone, such as elasticity and high-temperature resistance, but also improve functions like anti-slip performance, wear resistance, and adhesion through surface textures. They are widely used in scenarios with specific requirements for surface touch and anti-slip performance.

3. Foamed Silicone Sheets

These are flexible sheets with a large number of tiny, uniform bubble structures formed inside the silicone through a special process. Their core features include lightweight, high elasticity, and excellent cushioning and heat insulation performance, while retaining the basic advantages of silicone such as resistance to high and low temperatures, aging resistance, non-toxicity, and environmental friendliness. They are widely used in scenarios that require cushioning, sealing, heat insulation, or shock absorption.

4. Silicone Sheets for Vacuum Laminating Machines

These are functional silicone sheets specially designed for vacuum laminating machines (commonly used in the surface laminating process of plates in furniture, building materials, advertising, and other industries, such as lamination of PVC films, PET films, decorative papers, etc.). Their core function is to tightly and evenly press the laminating material onto the substrate surface under vacuum negative pressure and heating conditions, while protecting the laminating material from damage by high temperatures and ensuring no bubbles or wrinkles in the lamination.

The above is an introduction to silicone sheets. As a functional material with diverse properties, the core value of silicone sheets lies in accurately addressing practical needs in different scenarios through their own material advantages.