Silicone Rubber is derived from inorganic silica (sand). Silicones were developed for commercial use during World War II to meet military applications requiring extreme temperature resistance. Over the years, numerous advances have been made, improving tensile strength, elongation, tear resistance, etc. Therefore, in addition to its broad temperature resistant properties, silicone rubber now possesses physical values superior to a number of other synthetic polymers.
Silicone functions reliably under many conditions that cause organic elastomers to fail or deteriorate prematurely. Chemically, silicones are quite different from other rubber-like materials and it is this difference that gives silicone its unique combination of properties. Organic polymers are made up of a backbone of carbon to carbon atoms. These are deteriorated easily when subjected to elevated temperatures and the effects of ozone.
By contrast, silicone rubber is made up of a backbone of silicone and oxygen atoms. This unique linkage is the same as that found in other high temperature materials such as quartz, glass, etc. As a result, silicone rubber provides outstanding high and low temperature resistant properties as well as general inertness toward many deteriorating effects such as ozone, corona, weathering, ultra violet, acids, bases, salts, oils, fuels, fluids, food products. Etc.
