Everything You Need To Know To Find The Best Custom Silicone Gaskets

You're on page 5 of 32 material selection pages' Getting sleepy yet? Rather than continue staring at nearly identical rolls of material, sit back and relax as we discuss whether silicone is the right choice for your application.  

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Silicone gaskets offer a wide range of heat-resistance and durability benefits, making them a popular choice for gasket manufacturing. 

As a converter, Strouse regularly builds custom gaskets for our clients. We're familiar with silicone's material behavior compared to other gasketing materials, so today, we'll explain its uses.

Read on to learn about the benefits and uses of silicone gaskets, plus what to consider when choosing a material for your gasket design. 

What is a Silicone Gasket?

If you're looking for multi-temperature range, high-performance mechanical seals with high resilience and durability, you should consider using silicone gaskets. 

Silicone gaskets can withstand high and low temperatures, making them a highly versatile material. Use them when you need a material with high-temperature resistance, a low compression set, and good electrical insulation. 

TYPES OF GASKETS

The type of material in your gasket depends on its intended use. For example, if you're dealing with a rigid object, you need a gasket that fits the set shape. Doors and moving structures need something more flexible.

Before you design a gasket, consider your needs, including temperature, pressure, corrosion resistance, availability, and cost.

Gaskets must be solid so they don't allow materials to pass through, and some need to handle energy discharge. You can have many different types of gaskets, including:

• Pipe gaskets
• Gasketing tape or adhesive
• Gasketing foam

And many different materials, including silicone, neoprene, EPDM, Teflon, Gore-Tex, and graphite gaskets.

What Are the Uses of Silicone Gaskets?

Because of their versatility, silicone gaskets are used in many different industries.

AEROSPACE

Silicone gaskets resist extreme temperatures, UV light, ozone, and chemicals. Because they can handle extreme weather and temperatures without wearing down, they're often the right fit for airplanes, space shuttles, and similar vehicles. 

TRANSPORTATION

Silicone gaskets are stable and durable, maintaining their resilience and strength even in extreme conditions. Because they can handle unnecessary stress without issues, they are great for personal, commercial, or industrial vehicles. In addition, they reduce vibrations, provide high-quality radiator seals, and are otherwise used for mass transit systems like buses and trains.

COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS

In the construction industry, silicone gaskets seal HVAC systems and windows or doors. You can also use them in engine gaskets to vent ducts. 

Other uses of silicone gaskets include sealing food processing machinery and industrial ovens in the food industry. The medical industry uses them for medical equipment like healthcare devices and pharmaceuticals. 

What Are the Benefits of Silicone Gaskets?

Before we get into the different types of silicone gaskets, it's worth considering the properties that differentiate them from other gasketing materials.

There are thousands of materials to make gaskets, but silicone stands out thanks to the benefits that allow it to be used in indoor and outdoor applications. 

1. ABILITY TO WITHSTAND HIGH AND LOW TEMPERATURES

Silicone gaskets can withstand temperatures up to 392 degrees Fahrenheit continuously, which makes them great for many industrial applications. It can be exposed to high heat levels without degrading or wearing out. 

Silicone seals can also withstand heat up to 428 degrees Fahrenheit intermittently and withstand extremely cold temperatures, remaining flexible at as low as -94 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. EXCELLENT INSULATION

Silicone gaskets have conductive capabilities that make them excellent insulators of electricity. Blending silicone with nickel-graphite or silver-plated aluminum particles can shield electromagnetic interference (EMI).

Silicones are found in most high-voltage insulators and other electrical components. Different chemical reactions can cross-link them, making them non-reactive at high temperatures. The electrical industry relies on these non-reactive materials. Silicone can also be blended with semi-conductive carbon to prevent electromagnetic discharge.

3. HIGHLY DURABLE

Silicone gaskets are highly durable and resistant to UV light, ozone, and extreme weather conditions, making them ideal for outdoor gasketing. 

Plus, silicone's tensile strength and durability make the gaskets highly economical, as it is a reliable and stable material. You can use these gaskets for a long time without them showing wear, and once installed, they don't require much maintenance.

4. FDA APPROVED

Because silicone gaskets are FDA-approved, they can be used in medical equipment, health care instruments, and food processing plants. They can also be mixed with other FDA-approved materials for high tear strength.

Unlike asbestos gaskets, silicone gaskets are also physiologically inert (not toxic or harmful to people). Their high tear strength and inertness make silicone gaskets useful for healthcare, food processing, medical diagnostic equipment, and pharmaceuticals.

5. COMPRESSION SET RELIANCE

Compression set reliance means that silicone gaskets function well under pressure by returning to their original thickness even after being compressed for long periods. 

Silicone gaskets are a smart choice for a lower compression set. A compression of 100% means the material will never return to its original thickness. Lower compression set reliance materials ensure the material doesn't get deformed in certain temperatures.

Matching the compression set reliance of your material to your intended use is essential. If the gasket material deforms, the seal will fail, leading to leaks and contaminations.

6. FLAME RETARDANT

Silicone gaskets have low flammability levels, making them ideal for industries that generate excessive heat. They can also be used in telecommunications equipment and mass transit systems. 

Silicone gaskets meet Underwriters Laboratories (UL) testing requirements for fire safety and flame resistance, meaning they can achieve UL94V0, UL94V1, and UL94HF1 flammability standards.

7. WATER-REPELLING MATERIAL

Silicone gasket material is water-repelling, repelling liquids, resisting moisture, and maintaining a watertight seal. This sealing ability is essential for industries dealing with moisture or water and is great for outdoor use in wet weather conditions. 

What Are the Types of Silicone Gaskets?

Silicone gaskets can come in sheets or rolls of different thicknesses. Depending on your needs, you can also use solid, sponge, or foam silicones.

TYPE #1: SOLID SILICONE GASKETS

Solid silicone gaskets are not always soft but rather tightly packed and more rigid than sponge silicone. If you need a seal rating of IP67 or higher, you'll want to choose solid silicones. 

Solid silicones can offer exceptional sealing capabilities, but remember that they're challenging to compress because of their hardness and require 15 to 20% compression.

TYPE #2: SPONGE SILICONE GASKETS

Sponge silicone gaskets offer more cushioning and padding. They can be open-cell or closed-cell. Open-cell silicones contain pockets that allow water, air, and chemicals to pass unless the gasket is compressed.

Closed-cell silicones have pockets filled with nitrogen to prevent water, air, or other chemicals from passing through, even at low compression. They will need at least 50% compression. Sponge silicone gaskets have a higher temperature threshold of 500 degrees Fahrenheit.

TYPE #3: FOAM SILICONE GASKETS

Foam silicone gaskets can be soft, medium, firm, or extra-firm and offer different compression levels. Like sponge silicone gaskets, foam silicone gaskets need at least 50% compression. They can be open-cell, closed-cell, or a mixture of both, and their temperature threshold is 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

TYPE #4: DIE CUT SILICONE GASKETS

Die cut silicone gaskets are a common type of gasket, built using custom machine tools to create unique parts. 

If you're using your design with custom sizes and thicknesses, die cut silicone gaskets could be a good option. They're often a more economical option for large volumes, because thousands of die cut gaskets can be produced per hour. 

TYPE #5: MOLDED SILICONE GASKETS

Molded silicone gaskets provide a higher-performance seal than die-cut silicone gaskets. However, this might come at a higher upfront cost, even though both are good for high-volume production. 

TYPE #6: CONDUCTIVE SILICONE GASKETS

Conductive silicone gaskets are made up of a mix of high-quality silicone and conductive particles. They are filled with conductive materials like nickel, carbon, and silver-plated nickel and are used for electronic equipment.

TYPE #7: FDA (FOOD GRADE) SILICONE GASKETS

FDA-approved silicone gaskets are generally used in the food processing industry. They are odorless, tasteless, and fungus-resistant. They also can handle extreme cold and heat, making them ideal for places with food around, like dough or cake mixers.

TYPE #8: FLUOROSILICONE GASKETS

Unfortunately, silicone isn't ideal for oil or petroleum-based chemicals. Fluorosilicone, or fluorinated silicone rubber, is similar to silicone, except it can withstand extreme temperatures and resist fuels, oils, and other petroleum-based chemicals. 

Silicone Gaskets vs Rubber Gaskets

Choosing between a silicone and a rubber gasket will depend on your goals. Silicone gaskets can be more efficient and perform better than rubber gaskets, especially in extremely high temperatures.

Natural rubber can work well in temperatures from -58 degrees to 176 degrees Fahrenheit intermittently, whereas silicone can handle more extreme temperatures, from -94 degrees to 426 degrees intermittently. Natural rubber starts to wear down at 176 degrees and melts by 248 degrees.

The cost of rubber materials like SBR can make them more appealing than silicone in pricing. However, rubber is not used with ozone, strong acids, fats, oils, and grease. Silicone, on the other hand, can be used with these materials. You can use silicone gaskets in UV and extreme weather conditions for outdoor applications.

Ultimately, you'll want to consider your design and application before finalizing your product material, which leads us to' 

Choosing the Right Gasket Material For Your Solution 

Now that you know more about silicone gaskets, you're ready to pick out a gasket adhesive that suits your needs. Moreover, given the complexity of material behavior, you'll want more to go off of than simply matching the numbers on a data sheet.  

Before you finalize your design, you might want to test the material within your application. Requesting a design sample will allow you to see if silicone really is the best choice for your gasket design. 

It's one thing to build the perfect gasket once, but how can you consistently manufacture your part to reduce the chances of product failure? 

We're here to help you through your product development process. Reach out to ask questions or request a sample. Lastly, please visit our Learning Center for additional resources.

Originally published: February 24,

Among thousands of materials available for use in custom gaskets, silicone is one of the most popular. That is due in part to silicone's physical resilience under environmental and extreme temperature conditions. However, even narrowing down the material you want to use for your gasket to silicone leaves you with endless silicone gasket materials to choose from.

Below, we detail some of the highest-quality silicone gasketing materials available today. At Modus Advanced, we work hard to deliver expertly cut and fabricated custom silicone gaskets. Part of that effort involves helping our customers find the perfect material for their design. 

This guide is by no means an exhaustive list of every silicone material available on the market, but it details the majority of the materials we'd consider our go-to for market availability, price and quality.

To learn more about the various silicone materials available for gasketing applications, see below or call Modus Advanced at 925-960-.

Table of Contents:

• BISCO Silicone Gasket Materials
• Specialty Silicone Products
• Additional Silicone Gasket Material Providers
  

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BISCO Silicone Gasket Materials

BISCO silicones come in cellular, solid and specialty roll stock. They also come with some of the highest available flame-resistance ratings, making them ideal for high-performance silicone gaskets.

Rogers, the producer of BISCO materials, is one of our core suppliers, and for good reason. The quality of their materials is top notch, they have a wide variety of materials to meet various applications, and they are readily available in the marketplace.

BF- Ultra Soft Silicone Foam

Because it is a silicone foam, BF- Ultra Soft Silicone Foam offers extreme temperature resistance. According to BISCO, this cellular silicone foam works well in transportation applications and excels in applications that require dust sealing and low closure force.

EC Electrically Conductive

Solid silicone, like BISCO's EC Electrically Conductive silicone, is ideal for situations that require resistance to extreme temperatures. This product is filled with carbon, is a low amperage electrical conductor and acts as an electrostatic discharge (ESD) shield. 

BF- Very Soft Silicone Foam

Another BISCO cellular silicone foam, BF- Very Soft Silicone Foam is durable, soft and highly compressible. Sealing outdoor enclosures and protecting electronic devices from vibrations, shock, heat and flame are where this silicone gasket material thrives.

HT-870 Soft Silicone Foam

This silicone foam is somewhat firmer and more dense than BF- Very Soft Silicone Foam. HT-870 Soft Silicone Foam is highly compressible, giving more room in designs for gaps of variable widths. It also resists softening and compression set, which helps prevent gasket failures. This silicone gasket material is available with adhesive on one or both sides to make surface application easy.

HT-800 Medium Silicone Foam

A step up from HT-870 Soft Silicone Foam in firmness and density, HT-800 Medium Silicone Foam offers all the lightness and flexibility of other silicone foams but the strong sealing abilities of silicone sponge material. This US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-compliant silicone foam is well-suited to sealing lighting, outdoor communications and electronics enclosures. 

HT-820 Firm Silicone Foam

This silicone foam material packs more tensile strength and tear resistance than its lower-density companion materials. HT-820 Firm Silicone Foam is light like other silicone foams but has a compact enough cell structure to protect electronic, outdoor communication and lighting equipment from wind-driven fire and rain and small dust particles.

HT-840 Extra-Firm Silicone Foam

Best for enclosures that require a high closure force gasket, HT-840 Extra-Firm Silicone Foam is the firmest BISCO silicone foam. It offers more tear resistance and tensile strength than all of the lighter-grade foams. This product works well for pressure distribution in extreme heat and when used in press pads.

MF1 Bun Silicone 

Low compression set, high UV and weather resistance, and unmatched resistance to flame, smoke and toxicity (FST) define MF1 Bun Silicone. Often used to cushion seating in passenger rail cars, this cellular silicone foam also excels in applications that are important to silicone gasket materials, such as vibration isolation and cushioning.

MS- Medical Grade Series 

Silicone gasket materials in the MS- Medical Grade Series are free of peroxide, low volatility, non-toxic and chemically inert, making them perfect for life sciences applications. In fact, the life sciences are these products' intended area of use. This is a solid silicone material that is both environmentally stable and heat-resistant.

SilFX Silicone Foam 

There is no lighter silicone cushion foam than SilFX Silicone Foam. Because this cellular silicone foam was initially designed for cushioning and seating on aircraft, it meets even the most strict FST standards. This silicone foam, which comes as a sheet or block, is also resistant to UV and weather damage.

IF-200 Tear Resistant Foam 

IF-200 Tear Resistant Foam contains a layer of fiberglass to make it highly resistant to tears and abrasions. This foam can stand up to harsh environments and provide a base for mechanical installation that is both flexible and supportive. At its core, this specialty cellular foam is BF- foam with a layer of supportive fiberglass.

RF-120 Silicone Heat Shield 

Most silicone foams can withstand heat and insulate objects and devices from it, but RF-120 Silicone Heat Shield can actually redirect the heat. It does this with highly reflective aluminized fabric, which also adds strength to the silicone gasket material. This specialty cellular foam is common in vehicles for commercial, professional and military use.

FPC Silicone Fire Barrier 

Commonly used to protect electronics and cables, and as a protective barrier in firefighting suits and on airplanes, FPC Silicone Fire Barrier can resist flames at higher temperatures than almost any other silicone foam. This material can handle intermittent flames of up to 1,900 degrees Fahrenheit and continuous flames of up to 392 degrees F. While preventing burn-through, this foam can also keep flames from spreading to other areas.

L3-XX40 Dynamic Flooring Material 

This medium-density cellular silicone foam is often used in mass transit applications because it provides world-class vibration damping and resistance. With resistance to extreme temperatures, weather and UV rays, L3-XX40 Dynamic Flooring Material also stacks up to global FST standards.

MSK-2 Kevlar Foam 

Both sides of MSK-2 Kevlar Foam are reinforced with Kevlar. The interior silicone foam gives this material flexibility while the Kevlar provides the high tear resistance and tensile strength that make it ideal for use in fire protection covering, expansion joint sealing and high-performance aircraft components. Another benefit of this product's Kevlar reinforcement is that it enables easy stitching.

Flame Resistant Sponge Silicone 

Available in soft, medium and firm grades, this line of BISCO Flame Resistant Sponge Silicone materials is excellent for gasketing that involves low closure force. With temperature resistance from -103 degrees to 450 degrees F, these materials also work well in applications that require some flame resistance.

RS-700 Industrial Silicone Sponge 

The RS-700 Industrial Silicone Sponge series is a high performer in applications that require a gasket with added durability and strength. Abrasion-resistant and able to stretch as much as 175% without failing, these silicone gasket materials perform in the most extreme possible conditions. The closed-cell silicone sponges provide a smooth surface on which to bond adhesives.

A2 Sound Barrier Silicone 

This is a solid silicone rubber that meets high FST thresholds. A2 Sound Barrier Silicone is also available with fiberglass reinforcement, adding even more tensile strength and tear resistance. Also, because of the filler technology it employs, this silicone material is highly flame-resistant on top of its applicability as a sound and shock barrier.

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HT- Series Silicone Rubbers 

Designed specifically for high-pressure and high-temperature gasketing, BISCO HT- Series Silicone Rubbers are general purpose solid silicone materials used in a wide variety of industrial environments. These materials are resistant to tears, high temperatures and many fluids and come in white, black, red and gray.

HT-200 Silicone Sound Barrier 

HT-200 Silicone Sound Barrier materials measure up to international aerospace and mass transit safety standards because they can withstand temperatures up to 482 degrees F and prevent fire and smoke from spreading. They also work well to reduce sound transmission. These solid silicone products come with or without supported backings and adhesives.

HT- Silicone Press Pad 

HT- Silicone Press Pad is a leading choice for designers who need high-strength gaskets that can withstand pressures that exceed 350 pounds per square inch (PSI) and temperatures over 350 degrees F. A coated layer of fiberglass sites between two layers of solid silicone rubber to increase durability and tear resistance.

HT- Series Silicones 

Perfect for high-performance gasketing, HT- Series Silicones feature low compression set, tight thickness tolerance and resistance to fluids, tears and high temperatures. These solid silicones are available in grades that range from soft to firm and offer design-friendly characteristics like flame resistance and transparency.

EC- Silicone EMI Shield 

This electrically conductive solid silicone gasketing material acts as an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield and radio frequency interference (RFI) shield, reducing EMI and RFI frequencies that are above 10 gigahertz (GHz). With low compressive forces, EC- Silicone EMI Shield materials are ideal in electronic enclosures, laptops, communication devices and many other applications that call for EMI and RFI shielding.

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Specialty Silicone Products Silicone Gasket Materials

Founded by four employees of GE Silicones, Specialty Silicone Products knows just about everything you can know about silicone gasket materials. This company lives by its motto, 'Silicones that Work,' by producing top-of-the-line custom silicone gasket materials and established lines of platinum-cured silicones that are at home in military and aerospace applications, among many other applications.

Platinum Cure Silicone Elastomers

Every elastomer in Specialty Silicone Products' SSP- line is cured with heat and platinum, translucent and compliant with FDA rules for rubber articles, United States Pharmacopeia and National Formulary (USP) Class VI requirements and the European Union's Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS). Intended for use with food, these silicone materials are available in custom pigments, sheets and ready-to-mold compound form, as well as durometers from 10 to 80.

Military and Aerospace Silicones

Specialty Silicone Products offers a wide variety of silicone gasket materials that can meet even the most extreme military and aerospace needs. Fluorosilicone products in this line offer chemical and fuel resistance, while silicone rubber gasket materials are tested against military and aerospace specifications like MIL-DTL-C and A-A-A. High- and low-temperature applications are no obstacle for this line of silicones.

Particle-Filled Shielding Silicones

You can choose from a wide range of electrically conductive EMI and RFI shielding silicone gasket materials in this line from Specialty Silicone Products. These materials work well in satellite communications, automotive, unmanned systems and aerospace applications. Fill materials include nickel aluminum, nickel graphite, silver aluminum, silver copper, silver glass and silver nickel. Each material is available in compression-molded sheetstock, continuous rolls and uncured moldable compounds.

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Additional Silicone Gasket Material Providers

ElastaPro Silicone Gasket Materials

ElastaPro offers a wide variety of silicone sheet stock materials, all of which are made in the United States. Each silicone gasketing material this company sells is rated for commercial, general purpose, food, flame retardant, extreme temperature resistance and high strength properties.

Commercial Grade Solid Silicone Sheet

ElastaPro's Commercial Grade Solid Silicone Sheet materials are not used in industrial applications but in commercial settings. Available in 30 to 90 durometer, these solid silicone gasket materials are highly temperature-resistant and lend themselves to easy die cutting. These products also offer a wide variety of thicknesses, widths and colors. 

General Purpose Solid Silicone Sheet

Common in industrial gasketing applications, General Purpose Solid Silicone Sheet materials from ElastaPro are available for purchase. As a standard in solid silicone materials, these products offer all of the usual features: temperature resistance, electrical insulation, UV and ozone resistance, and great compression set. These materials are well-positioned as a high-quality sealing and gasket solution.

FDA Grade (White) Solid Silicone Sheet

Ideal for food-grade silicone rubber gaskets, FDA Grade (White) Solid Silicone Sheet material is compliant with United States federal rules about rubber implements that touch food repeatedly. Electrical insulation, resistance to high and low temperatures and resistance to ozone and UV come standard with this material. According to ElastaPro, white is the most popular color for this line of products.

FDA Grade (Translucent) Solid Silicone Sheet

Like the white version of this product, FDA Grade (Translucent) Solid Silicone Sheet material is meant for applications that involve contact with food and dairy. This food-grade silicone gasket material is not completely clear, but it lets light pass through it and offers a clean look. It does not yellow over time and has no taste or odor.

Electrically Conductive Solid Silicone Sheet

Offering EMI and RFI resistance, ElastaPro's Electrically Conductive Solid Silicone Sheet is often used for EMI and RFI shielding gaskets. This low-amperage, semi-conductive solid silicone also offers low outgassing, low compression set and strong chemical and fluid resistance, as well as high and low temperature resistance.

Fiberglass Reinforced Solid Silicone Sheet

The Fiberglass Reinforced Solid Silicone Sheet can resist temperatures over 500 degrees F and features a reinforcing layer of fiberglass that adds tear resistance and tensile strength. Those features, as well as high weather, UV and ozone resistance, make this solid silicone material a top choice for industrial gaskets and seals. 

Solid Fluorosilicone Sheet

Fluorosilicone is useful in similar applications to silicone but brings to the table added chemical resistance. ElastaPro's solid fluorosilicone sheet products are excellent fluorosilicone gasket materials that resist non-polar fluids, dilute acids, diester, hydrocarbon fuels and silicone oils. The automotive, military and aerospace industries commonly use this material.

Healthcare (USP Class VI) Solid Silicone Sheet

Easily die-cut and designed for medical applications that can involve spending up to 29 days inside the human body, Healthcare (USP Class VI) Solid Silicone Sheet materials are free of organic plasticizers, smells, odors, phthalates and peroxide. These materials make high-quality silicone gaskets and seals.

High Strength Solid Silicone Sheet

On top of being stronger and more compression-resistant than general purpose and medium-strength solid silicone sheets, ElastaPro's High Strength Solid Silicone Sheet materials are also compliant with Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations, which defines rubber implements that can be safely used within food applications. 

Medium Strength Solid Silicone Sheet

Stronger than general purpose solid silicone sheets, Medium Strength Solid Silicone Sheet materials offer a highly effective sealing solution and ease at the fabrication stage. They can also withstand intermittent temperatures of more than 500 degrees F and sustained temperatures of -80 degrees to 450 degrees F.

Extreme Flame Retardant Solid Silicone Sheet

With UL94 V0 Yellow Card certification, ElastaPro's Extreme Flame Retardant Solid Silicone Sheet is, as its name suggests, highly resistant to flames. In fact, it can easily withstand intermittent temperatures of more than 550 degrees F and produces low smoke density, making it ideal for indoor applications that require silicone gasket materials.

Extreme High Temperature Solid Silicone Sheet

With the ability to withstand intermittent temperatures that exceed 600 degrees F, Extreme High Temperature Solid Silicone Sheet materials offer much higher heat resistance than standard or even heavy-duty solid silicone materials. These products' use of the latest heat stabilizer technology makes them ideal for gaskets and seals to be used in extremely hot environments. 

Extreme Low Temperature Solid Silicone Sheet

The polar opposite of its high-temperature counterpart, Extreme Low Temperature Solid Silicone Sheet materials from ElastaPro can withstand temperatures lower than -130 degrees F. This silicone gasket material's resistance to cold temperatures makes it highly useful in cryogenics, aerospace and defense applications. It is also resistant to UV and ozone and works well as an electrical insulator.

High Strength/Extreme Low Temperature Solid Silicone Sheet

In defense, aerospace and cryogenics applications, High Strength/Extreme Low Temperature Solid Silicone Sheet materials provide a silicone gasket solution that is resistant to the low temperatures these applications can encounter while offering increased tensile and tear strength to withstand various other environmental stressors.

Metal Detectable Solid Silicone Sheet

Intended for use in food, dairy, beverage and pharmaceutical applications, ElastaPro's Metal Detectable Solid Silicone Sheet materials are chemically inert, nontoxic, and free of odors, tastes and peroxide. These products are compliant with FDA regulations regarding rubber implements used with food and pharmaceutical products.

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Warco Silicone Gasket Materials

Warco produces several variations on its INFINISIL silicone material. Each of these silicone products can work well as a gasketing material in different environments and applications. Warco specializes in specialty, specification-grade and commercial silicone materials.

INFINISIL Performance Silicone

Commonly used in the aerospace industry, Warco's INFINISIL Performance Silicone excels in extreme high- and low-temperature environments. For added tear and tensile strength, this silicone gasket material can also come with a layer of fiberglass reinforcement. This material is also chemically inert and resistant to UV, ozone and fungus.

INFINISIL Spec-Grade Performance Silicone

INFINISIL Spec-Grade Performance Silicone is a solid silicone sheet that is known as a high-performing gasket material. It offers more durable physical properties and lower compression set, as well as resistance to extreme temperatures. This material is available in nylon and smooth finishes and only one color: red.

INFINISIL Fiberglass Inserted Silicone

With a temperature resistance range of less than -80 degrees to more than 450 degrees F, Warco's INFINISIL Fiberglass Inserted Silicone comes with a fiberglass insert to add tear resistance and tensile strength. A top silicone gasketing material, it can also be used in diaphragm and belting applications.

INFINISIL FDA Performance Silicone

INFINISIL FDA Performance Silicone materials are common in the food service, medical and aerospace industries. These solid silicone sheet materials are compliant with FDA regulations about rubber implements approved for use in settings where they repeatedly touch consumable products. Peroxide-free, low volatile and highly resistant to discoloration, these products are ideal for use in food and beverage applications.

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Ja-Bar Silicone Gasket Materials

Nolato Ja-Bar silicone gasket materials come in a wide variety of shapes, densities, widths, thicknesses and specifications. From environmental sealing to EMI shield applications, silicone rubber from Ja-Bar is among the best and most widely used across various industries and applications.

Series Solid Silicone Rubber Sheets

Series Solid Silicone Rubber Sheets from Ja-Bar are great all-around solid silicone for designers who need strength, flexibility and high sealing power. Ja-Bar offers a wide range of thicknesses for this material, including silicone sheets that are more than 2 inches thick (available by special order).

Series Silicone Rubber Continuous Sheets

Ja-Bar offers Series Silicone Rubber Continuous Sheets in large red and orange rolls ' with other colors available by special order ' that come in a wide range of hardnesses and thicknesses. Hardness for this material ranges from 20 durometer to 80, and standard thicknesses range from 0.010 to 0.375 inches.

Series Silicone Sponge Rubber Sheets

Series Silicone Sponge Rubber Sheets feature sponge silicone with a closed-cell structure to minimize water absorption. The silicone sponge material allows for high compressibility, making this material perfect for gasketing applications that demand a low closure sealing force. This material is available in a wide range of thicknesses.

Series Silicone Sponge Rubber Continuous Sheets

Ja-Bar's Series Silicone Sponge Rubber Continuous Sheets are very similar to the Series Silicone Sponge Rubber Sheets. The key difference is that this product comes standard in roll form. This material offers all the same temperature resistance, water resistance and compressibility of the standard silicone sponge sheets.

Series Fluorosilicone Rubber Sheets

Fluorosilicone features many of the same properties of standard silicone products, but it offers higher resistance to oil, fuel and similar substances. That chemical resistance makes these Series Fluorosilicone Rubber Sheets ideal for gasketing applications that involve contact with crude oil, jet fuel, gasoline and solvents. 

Series Fluorosilicone Rubber Continuous Sheets

Series Fluorosilicone Rubber Continuous Sheets are basically the roll version of Ja-Bar's Series Fluorosilicone Rubber Sheets. This particular formulation makes for solid silicone gasket material in electronics, petrochemical and oil refining and commercial and military aviation. It offers higher chemical resistance than other silicone products, as well as wide temperature resistance.

Series Solid Silicone Rubber Extrusions

Ja-Bar offers a wide variety of silicone extrusions to form solid silicone into a cross-sectional profile that is more complex than a standard sheet. Designers who need high and low temperature resistance and a particular cross-sectional profile may find what they need with Series Solid Silicone Rubber Extrusions.

Series Solid Silicone Rubber Cord Stock

Series Solid Silicone Rubber Cord Stock is a common cord-shaped extrusion that makes an ideal silicone gasketing material. Ja-Bar provides Series Solid Silicone Rubber Cord Stock in a wide range of sizes, from 0.031 to 2.5 inches in diameter.

Series Solid Silicone Rubber Cord Stock

Unlike Series , the Series Solid Silicone Rubber Cord Stock comes in hollow tube form. The other physical properties remain the same, including wide temperature resistance and high compressibility. Internal diameters range from 0.031 to 1 inch, while outer diameters range from 0.093 to 2 inches.

Series Solid Silicone Rubber Rectangular Stock

Perfect for highly specialized silicone gasketing applications, Series Solid Silicone Rubber Rectangular Stock for Ja-Bar comes in a wide variety of widths and thicknesses. Thicknesses vary from 0.063 to 1 inch thick. Widths can go anywhere from 0.093 to 1.5 inches.

Series Solid Silicone Rubber 'D' Profile Stock

The cross-sectional profile of Ja-Bar's Series Solid Silicone Rubber 'D' Profile Stock looks like a capital letter D turned on its side. This speciality silicone gasketing material maintains all the temperature, weather and fluid resistance of solid silicone but offers added thickness to increase tensile and tear strength. This product can be solid or tubed and as thick as 1 square inch.

Series Solid Silicone Rubber 'P' Profile Stock

The cross-sectional profile of Series Solid Silicone Rubber 'P' Profile Stock resembles a capital letter P lying on its back, consisting of a hollow tube and flat tail or tab. Outer diameters for the tubed part of this material can be as large as 1 inch and as small as 0.093 inches.

Series Solid Silicone Rubber 'U' Profile Stock

Ja-Bar's Series Solid Silicone Rubber 'U' Profile Stock can be made to almost any proportions in the general shape of the letter U. Two tabs or tails come up on either side of a bottom section, which can have tubing holes or not, depending on your preferences. Customizability and multi-functionality make this silicone material helpful in specialized gasketing applications.

Series Sponge Silicone Rubber Extrusions

Silicone sponge material tends to offer longer life and more compressibility than other silicone gasket materials. And because Series Sponge Silicone Rubber Extrusions offer a closed-cell formulation, the easier compressibility does not come with increased water absorption. All exterior sides of this material have a smooth surface, while the interior is porous and spongy.

Series Sponge Silicone Rubber Cord Stock

Series Sponge Silicone Rubber Cord Stock from Ja-Bar is a solid cord shape that is highly compressible, resistant to extreme temperatures and resistant to water absorption. The diameter of this silicone sponge material can range from 0.062 to 2 inches.

Series Sponge Silicone Rubber Rectangular Stock

With the ability to select densities to meet exact design specifications, this rectangular sponge silicone is perfect for gasketing applications that require low closure force. Series Sponge Silicone Rubber Rectangular Stock offers the standard high temperature capabilities and closed-cell water resistance of sponge silicone in a rectangle shape that can be up to 2 inches thick.

Series Fluorosilicone Rubber Extrusions

Available in strips, tubes, P seals and U channels, Series Fluorosilicone Rubber Extrusions provide a chemical-resistant gasketing material well-suited for use in aircraft, electronics and petrochemical, and oil refining. This material can withstand dry heat that exceeds 450 degrees F and non-dry heat up to 350 degrees F.

Series Washer and Bushings

Ja-Bar offers a wide range of silicone gasket materials cut from silicone tubing. Diameters for these products range from 0.032 inches to 1 inch, and the products can be as long as 6 inches. The Series is available in sponge and solid silicone, as well as fluorosilicone, and Ja-Bar offers to produce the materials to exact project specifications.

Series Heat Transfer Pads

Series Heat Transfer Pads are ideal for heat-sealing applications. These materials are made up of silicone rubber that is bonded to steel or aluminum. Available in sheets of up to 24 square inches, these materials offer superior heat sealing at up to 500 degrees F.

Series Injection Molding

These materials are made with liquid silicone that Ja-Bar injects into a pre-set mold to form the desired shape. This process allows Series Injection Molding materials to achieve extreme low-durometer hardness, which makes them ideal for cushioning or shock-absorbing gaskets. These silicone materials are inert and odorless, and they meet FDA specifications for use with consumable products.

Series Solid Silicone Rubber Strip/Tape

Series Solid Silicone Rubber Strip/Tape products can also be made with sponge silicone to allow higher compression. In both solid and sponge silicone forms, you can elect whether to have adhesive backing included on this material. Because of their high flexibility and ability to stretch, these strips and tapes work well in gasketing applications that involve application to irregular or uneven surfaces.

Series FDA Grade Silicone Rubber

This translucent silicone rubber can come in sheets, shapes, tubing and cords. Ja-Bar's Series FDA Grade Silicone Rubber materials satisfy FDA requirements for use with consumable goods by being nontoxic and odorless. While the base look for these materials is translucent, the FDA has approved several pigments that Ja-Bar can apply to these materials to create different colors.

National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) Silicone Rubber

This silicone rubber, available extruded as custom shapes, cords, tubing and rectangles, meets both FDA and National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) requirements for use in food equipment. Specifically, this material is certified under NSF's Title 51. National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) Silicone Rubber products are odorless and nontoxic.

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VIP Rubber Silicone Gasket Materials

VIP Rubber's silicone selection is somewhat limited when compared to similar materials manufacturers, but the two commercial-grade silicone sheets this company offers check the specification boxes for most standard silicone gasket applications.

Commercial-Grade Silicone

VIP Rubber offers commercial-grade silicone sheeting in a variety of roll widths and thicknesses. This general purpose silicone works well in commercial gasketing applications but may not stand up to the requirements of heavy industrial applications. Hardness ranges from 25 to 80 durometer, and the temperature resistance range goes from -100 to 450 degrees F. This material retains flexibility under extreme environmental conditions and offers excellent compression set.

Translucent Commercial-Grade Silicone

Another commercial-grade silicone sheet offering from VIP Rubber, this material is translucent rather than the standard reddish orange color of silicone sheet products. It features all of the physical properties of standard commercial-grade silicone but starts at a slightly higher durometer baseline of 40.

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American Rubber Products Silicone Gasket Materials

American Rubber Products provides silicone gasket materials that range from standard commercial-grade applications to advanced fluorosilicone and EMI shielding uses. This company keeps more than 500 rubber materials, many of which are silicone, in stock to satisfy the needs of designers across multiple industries.

Commercial Grade Silicone Sheeting

With resistance to ozone, UV light, extreme temperatures and oxidation, American Rubber Products' Commercial Grade Silicone Sheeting is a go-to silicone gasket material across various commercial industries. This product comes with a pressure-sensitive adhesive backing, thicknesses up to 1 inch and custom widths up to 70 inches.

Specification Grade Silicone Sheeting

This silicone sheeting meets A-A- (ZZR-765), AMS, AMS, AMS, AMS and AMS specifications, as well as FDA requirements for use in food equipment. Available in continuous rolls or sheets, Specification Grade Silicone Sheeting from American Rubber Products comes with an adhesive backing and makes a great commercial-grade gasket material.

FDA Grade White Silicone Sheeting

For gasketing applications that involve exposure to food, this FDA-compliant silicone sheet may be an ideal solution. FDA Grade White Silicone Sheeting offers all the typical physical properties of silicone ' extreme temperature, UV, ozone and chemical resistance and low compression set ' as well as the added feature of being made with nontoxic materials.

Translucent FDA Grade Silicone Sheeting

Aside from being a different color, translucent FDA Grade Silicone Sheeting is much like its white counterpart described above, but it also offers high cosmic radiation resistance and meets additional federal specifications for use in dairy applications.

Extreme High Temperature Silicone Sheeting

This product is specifically formulated for use as a silicone gasket material in applications that require exposure to high temperatures. Also FDA-compliant for use in food equipment, Extreme High Temperature Silicone Sheeting remains thermally stable when exposed to a wide variety of extreme temperatures.

Fiberglass Reinforced Silicone Sheeting

This material is composed of a single fiberglass layer with two equal layers of solid silicone rubber on either side. Ideal in high- or low-temperature gasket applications, the sheet material is non-porous to make it absorb less water and resist deterioration from corrosive chemicals like jet fuel. Like all other American Rubber Products silicone sheets, Fiberglass Reinforced Silicone Sheeting can come with a pressure-sensitive adhesive backing attached.

Fluorosilicone Sheeting

Harsh chemicals like solvents and fuels are no match for the chemical-resistant properties of Fluorosilicone Sheeting. Chemical resistance makes this material suited for aerospace gasketing applications, among other uses. 

Medical Grade Silicone Sheeting

This low-volatile, nontoxic silicone gasket material is meant for highly sensitive applications in healthcare, making it an ideal gasketing material for demanding environments. Medical Grade Silicone Sheeting from American Rubber Products is also compliant with United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) standard Class VI.

Electrically Conductive Silicone

This material works as a low-amperage conductor in RFI and EMI shielding gaskets. Filled with black carbon and able to be up to a half inch thick, this solid silicone sheeting material conducts electricity and has gasketing applications in a variety of industries, such as defense, personal electronics and aerospace.

Closed Cell Silicone Sponge: Soft, Medium and Firm Densities

American Rubber Products' Closed Cell Silicone Sponge material comes in soft, medium and firm densities. The sponge material offers high compressibility, and the product's smooth surface enables 100% contact between the material and surfaces, meaning it has excellent sealing properties. The uniform, closed-cell structure of this material prevents water absorption.

Closed Cell Silicone Sponge: Flame Retardant

This closed-cell silicone sponge product offers similar properties to the other American Rubber Products sponge silicone offerings, but flame-retardant Closed Cell Silicone Sponge material meets UL 94 self-extinguishing and flammability requirements.

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Modus: Custom Silicone Gasket Cutting and Fabrication Made Easy

Silicone gaskets offer endless solutions for EMI shielding, environmental sealing, dust protection and various other complex design problems. 

When it comes to silicone, there are many materials with different properties and specifications to choose from. Narrowing down to your final material is something best done with the help of an expert. This guide is designed to help you start the process of material selection, before diving into the nitty gritty details.

For more information, please visit Custom Silicone Gaskets.

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