Silicone Sponge: Applications & Benefits
Silicone sponge is a versatile and durable material that can be used in a wide range of applications.
Designed for exceptionally reliable sealing, cushioning and vibration insulation, silicone sponge offers impressive heat resistance and can withstand extremely high and low temperatures without degrading.
What are the properties of silicone sponge?
Silicone sponge is a versatile material with a huge range of beneficial properties that make it suitable for a wide range of applications. Understanding the properties of silicone sponge and silicone sheets can help you identify whether it is the best choice of material for your required application.
Here are some of the key properties of silicone sponge:
✔ Closed cell structure
Silicone sponge is an elastomeric material and is expanded at the time it is heat cured. This process results in a closed cell sponge structure, meaning each cell is a complete closed sphere, trapping air within each cell and creating a natural barrier against moisture, liquids, gases and other environmental elements.
✔ Temperature resistance
Silicone sponge can withstand extremely high and low temperatures, operating within a temperature range between -60 degrees Celsius and 230 degrees Celsius without compromising its structural integrity or high performance.
✔ Environmental resistance
Thanks to its closed cell structure, silicone sponge is highly resistant to moisture, radiation and ozone and UV, allowing it to perform well in even the harshest of environments. This makes it ideal for use in outdoor applications, including sealing for HVAC systems, Aerospace and Marine.
✔ Water resistance
The closed cell structure also means that silicone sponge is also highly water resistant. Capable of meeting ingress protection 67 (IP67), kSil Silicone Sponge Sheeting offers water ingress protection to many critical applications in many market sectors.
✔ Compressibility
Silicone sponge offers impressive low compression set, meaning the material will recover quickly when compressed. This is a critical aspect for design engineers when testing sealing materials. The sponge can seamlessly fill gaps and conform to irregular shapes and surfaces due to its excellent flexibility, without jeopardising its structural integrity.
✔ Chemical reactivity
Silicone is an extremely inert material. It does not react to many chemicals and oils however; it does not react well petroleum-based fuels.
What applications can silicone sponge be used for?
With its range of highly favourable properties, silicone sponge can be used in a wide variety of applications, including:
Gaskets and seals
Silicone sponge is commonly used in the Automotive sector to seal, insulate and protect. Silicone sheets are also used within the world of Aerospace to produce die-cut gaskets used to seal the different compartments found in the interior cabin such as overhead storage bins, electronic components and HVAC seals.
Thermal insulation
Silicone sponge’s heat-resistant properties make it a great material for insulating industrial equipment, including valves and pipes, as well as gap filling and thermal insulation.
Shock absorption and cushioning
Silicone sponge can be used to prevent vibration, rattle and squeak in Automotive, Aerospace, Rail and other Mass Transit transportation.
Food processing equipment
Silicone sponge is widely used in food processing equipment due to its non-toxic and heat-resistant properties. Typically used as seals and gaskets, silicone sponge can withstand high heat applications
Construction industry
In the construction industry, silicone sponge is used for sealing, insulation and protection. Creating seals and gaskets for HVAC systems, glazing and doors seals and improving the energy efficiency of buildings.
What are the benefits of silicone sponge?
Silicone sponge is a versatile material with a whole host of benefits, including:
- Wide operating temperature (-60°C to 230°C)
- Extremely low water absorption
- Environmental resistance
- Low Compression Set
- Durability
- Offered in a variety of densities, ranging from 150 kg/m3 to 530 kg/m3
- Manufactured in a range of thicknesses, from 1.5mm to 12.7mm in rolls and up to 45mm in sheets
- Available in sheets, rolls & extruded shapes
How can we help?
Silicone Engineering is the leading silicone sponge sheeting manufacturer in the UK – we are experts in calendared closed cell silicone sponge.
Manufactured on state-of-the-art processing lines, our kSil® Silicone Sponge range is known across industries for providing excellent thermal insulation, physical performance and temperature resistance in many applications.
Our new fully FDA-approved silicone sponge sheeting is the ideal material for applications in the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industry. Ideal for seals, gaskets and more.
To find out more about the silicone sponge sheeting products we offer please get in touch.