Silicone and Synthetic Rubbers

What are silicones?

Silicones are inert synthetic compounds that come in a variety of forms (oil, rubber, resin). Typically, heat-resistant and rubber-like, they are present in sealants, adhesives, lubricants, medical applications, cookware and insulation. Silicones are polymers that contain silicon, combined with carbon, hydrogen and oxygen and, in some cases, other elements.

High-quality Rubber Silicone for Advanced Automotive Parts

The automotive industry, which currently produces up to 80 million vehicles per year, is constantly innovating and demanding new high-performance applications, both under the hood and elsewhere in the car. These new advanced automotive parts are often designed to reduce weight and fuel consumption, thereby leading to smaller and more compact engine compartments, resulting in higher temperatures and more stress to vital parts because of higher air pressure, greater water flow, more powerful fuel injection and corrosive fluids.

Traditional materials often have trouble dealing with these high temperatures and aggressive conditions. Elkem silicones high-quality hcr (high consistency rubber) silicones, for their part, can withstand extreme temperatures of up to 200°c (300°c with specific additives) because of their stability, and are therefore ideal for a wide range of critical parts. Advanced silicones for automotive applications are designed to achieve the best balance between tear resistance and compression set at high temperatures. Furthermore, these advanced silicone products are easy to use in a wide range of processes, such as extrusion, calendering or injection moulding, in line with customers’ industrial setups.