At present, a large number of rubber sheeting options are available in the market. If you find yourself stuck choosing between silicon rubber and natural rubber, this post can help you make the right choice. So, without any delay, let’s begin the discussion.
What are Silicone Sheets and what are their properties?
A silicone sheet is made from synthetic elastomer which provides unique physical properties. Most silicone sheets are manufactured and produced keeping hygiene in mind. When buying silicone sheets for food and beverage companies, one should make sure that silicone sheets adhere to FDA guidelines.
Properties of Silicone Sheets
Silicone sheets are widely used due to their remarkable qualities, such as a wide temperature range and excellent resistance to weathering, UV, and sunlight aging. One of the best features of silicone sheets is that they are extremely resilient and can withstand very low and high temperatures without changing their properties. Thus, silicone sheets make the ideal choice for applications with extreme temperatures. What’s more, they don’t melt in boiling water due to their high heat-bearing capacity and are non-toxic to humans.
What are Natural Rubber Sheets and what are their properties?
The natural rubber is created from latex which is extracted from rubber trees. Latex is a sticky and milky colloid that is collected through a process called tapping. Later, this latex is refined into rubber and used for commercial purposes.
Properties of Natural Rubber Sheets
Natural rubber has very good abrasion resistance and also has high tensile and tear strength. However, unlike silicone sheets, natural rubber doesn’t have very good weathering properties. The reason behind it is that natural rubber doesn’t go well with ozone and sunlight aging and doesn’t respond well to high temperatures. Thus, natural rubber sheets are typically used in applications such as lining construction chutes, grits and shot blast rubber-lined cabinets. Due to its poor weathering properties, it is mainly used for indoor applications.
Which one is better – silicone sheet or natural rubber sheet?
Based on applications, both types of sheets have their own pros and cons. Natural rubber lacks resilience – an area where silicone rubber offers great performance. While natural rubber is tough and has excellent abrasion and tear resistance, silicone sheet is in demand for its ability to withstand extreme temperatures.
Thus, silicone sheets are durable options when you are looking for durable and high-temperature-resistant sheets. Since they are well tolerated by humans, they find wide usage in healthcare, nursing, and food manufacturing industries. Silicone sheets are typically more expensive than most rubber sheets. Generally, they are produced in relatively small quantities and require high-end primary manufacturing facilities.
So, before making any purchase, first, think about what type of application the sheet will be used for. Make a list of properties that a sheet must have in order to last longer and perform better. Once you know the type of application and expected properties, you can easily decide which type of sheet you should buy.