Silicone Elastomer Sheet - Material Information

Silicone elastomers are synthetic polymers composed primarily of repeating siloxane units (Si–O–Si) with organic side groups such as methyl or phenyl. Known for their flexibility, high-temperature stability, and chemical inertness, these materials are integral to aerospace, biomedical, and electronics industries. Their exceptional resistance to UV radiation, oxygen, and moisture allows them to maintain performance under extreme environmental conditions.

Material Overview

Silicone elastomers, typically formulated as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) or related copolymers, exhibit a glass transition temperature (T_g) around –120 °C and maintain elasticity up to 250 °C. The elastic modulus of cured silicone varies between 50 kPa and 180 kPa depending on the cross-linking ratio (Foerster et al., 2021). The materials also possess high elongation at break (up to 600%) and dielectric strength exceeding 20 kV·mm?¹ (Izdihar et al., 2021). Thermal conductivity typically ranges from 0.15 to 0.25 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹, sufficient for electronic encapsulation and heat management. According to Cornelius and Monroe (1985), silicones combine low surface energy, excellent oxidative stability, and flame resistance, making them ideal for seals, gaskets, and insulators. The incorporation of UV-stabilizing additives such as benzophenone or TiO? further enhances service life under solar and high-intensity illumination (Mahmoud et al., 2023).

Applications and Advantages

Silicone elastomer sheets are widely used in sealing systems, medical devices, and microfluidic platforms where biocompatibility and flexibility are essential. Their tunable viscoelasticity allows for use in vibration dampers, soft robotics, and dielectric actuators. UV-curable silicone systems have enabled additive manufacturing of flexible components with localized control of stiffness, useful in electronics and regenerative medicine (Foerster et al., 2021). PDMS-based elastomers are also employed in biomedical phantoms due to their mechanical and dielectric similarity to human soft tissue (Izdihar et al., 2021). The combination of chemical stability, low toxicity, and thermal endurance ensures that silicone elastomers remain indispensable for both research and commercial engineering applications.

Goodfellow Availability

Goodfellow supplies high-purity silicone elastomer sheets suitable for industrial, laboratory, and biomedical applications. Custom formulations and dimensions are available to meet diverse mechanical and dielectric requirements. Explore silicone elastomers and related polymeric materials through the Goodfellow product finder.

References

• Foerster, A., Annarasa, V., Terry, A., Wildman, R. D., Hague, R. J. M., Irvine, D. J., De Focatiis, D. S. A., & Tuck, C. (2021). UV-curable silicone materials with tuneable mechanical properties for 3D printing. Materials & Design, 204, 109681. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MATDES.2021.109681
• Izdihar, K., Abdul Razak, H. R., Supion, N., Abdul Karim, M. K., Osman, N. H., & Norkhairunnisa, M. (2021). Structural, mechanical, and dielectric properties of polydimethylsiloxane and silicone elastomer for clinical-grade phantoms. Applied Sciences, 11(3), 1172. https://doi.org/10.3390/APP11031172
• Cornelius, D. J., & Monroe, C. M. (1985). The unique properties of silicone and fluorosilicone elastomers. Polymer Engineering and Science, 25(8), 484–491. https://doi.org/10.1002/PEN.760250807
• Mahmoud, A., et al. (2023). Effect of ultraviolet protective agents on maxillofacial silicone elastomer: Mechanical properties after artificial aging. Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, 129(4), 502–510. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prosdent.2021.06.032