Non-Conductive Silicone Foam Gasketing and Sealing
For many industries, innovative designs and engineering start with the ideal materials. For decades, Polymer Science has endeavored to provide a wide range of specialized tapes, coatings, and adhesives for thermal management, shielding & grounding, and general industrial purposes.
We offer our business partners high-quality materials and a proven record of exceptional support.
For Tier 1 suppliers and OEMs, our silicone foams for gasketing and sealing are highly effective. From everyday consumer applications to specialized applications in industries like aerospace, automotive, electric vehicle, rail and transportation, Polymer Science silicone foams offer a number of key advantages.
In situations that may not be suitable for alternatives such as polyurethane and other rubber-based sealing options, silicone foams offer low compression set options with predictable performance over time. Silicone foam also has a low compression set and tolerates weather, moisture, UV, biological growth, and extreme heat.
The versatility of silicone foams combined with our range of densities and hardnesses, helps your design, engineering and manufacturing process excel. Polymer Science helps our partners find the ideal silicone foam for your application.
Features and Benefits
Selecting the right silicone foam begins with understanding your specific needs and finding the most advantageous formula for your application.
Silicone foams provide solutions for gasketing and sealing in applications requiring resilience during use from the added stress of vibration and flex as well as extreme temperature ranges, and environmental conditions including chemicals and moisture.
For industrial applications, consumer devices, and throughout transportation markets, silicone foams are recognized as versatile. At Polymer Science, we understand that your specific product requires a unique solution.
Consider the specific features and benefits of silicone foam when selecting your material:
Compression Set Resistance
Silicone foam has excellent resistance to compression set and creep over time. Even in extreme conditions, silicone foams retain their original shape and thickness. Materials with low compression set have minimal permanent deformation and Polymer Science silicone foams recover elasticity and sealing properties after compression force is released.
Low compression set in gaskets, seals and cushioning are preferred when pressure, temperature and other adverse factors are present. For industries including aerospace, automotive, EV and mass transit, long-term compression resistance and resilience are a key advantage for sealing windows, doors, lights, and sensitive components.
Shock Absorption and Vibration
The need to control mechanical noise, environmental sounds and dampen vibration is essential in transportation and other industries.
Silicone foams help to absorb and damp out noise and vibration created by mechanical or environmental factors. As a sealing material for windows, doors, and radar domes, as well as a high-performance gasket, silicone foam is resilient during use from added stresses of vibration and flex.
As more devices become portable, protecting sensitive components is key. Silicone foams can absorb shocks in portable consumer electronics. Sensitive technology within vehicles and transportation systems can be protected against shocks and vibrations with silicone foam gaskets.
Useful Temperature Range
The versatility and effectiveness of silicone foams provide manufacturers and end users consumers with reliable long-term solutions.
This extends to protecting against temperatures and other environmental factors. Silicone foam tolerates temperature extremes and environmental conditions like UV, ozone, water and chemicals. For outdoor applications, silicone foams are the preferred material of choice.
Silicone foams are also useful because of their behavior in direct flame and high-heat applications. Silicone foams are naturally flame resistant due to their low-density composition and also do not decompose into toxic gasses typically associated with organic bases such as polyurethanes.
As a non-corrosive material, silicone foam may be used to seal metals and other sensitive components against extreme conditions.
Soft silicone foam is conformable for use in housings and other applications where soft closure force may be required.
Firm silicone foam is useful for dust and moisture sealing, gap filling, load distribution and mechanical shock absorption.
Weather and Chemical Resistance
Polymer Science silicone foams provide solutions for gasketing and sealing in applications requiring chemical and moisture resistance.
Silicone foams differ from a similar material, silicone sponge, in how the materials are produced. Silicone sponge begins as a silicone gum that is mixed with blowing and vulcanizing materials and processed through a calendar and curing oven to form the finished closed-cell product. Silicone foam begins as a liquid silicone that is cast onto liners and cured to form a hybrid open and closed-cell finished structure.
The cast foam results in a solid skin surface on each side that combined with the hydrophobic nature of silicone makes silicone foam an excellent choice when weather-resistant characteristics are needed. The resulting foam also has lower density and is more thermally insulative than the similar silicone sponge material.
Applications
The performance features of nonconductive silicone foams benefit many industries and markets.
For example, across the broad market of transportation, Polymer Science supplies silicone foam for many applications. Vibration dampening for sensors and housings, sealing lights and windows, and battery pack housing seal are just a few of the most common applications. Our materials are used in aerospace, automotive, electric vehicles, and mass transit.
The versatility of silicone foams is effective far beyond transportation. Polymer Science has the experience and infrastructure to work with companies around the globe.
Our process considers more than just the end use of your product. As an industry leader, we understand that optimizing the early design phase and streamlining the manufacturing process is key to successful production. When you work with Polymer Science, your business gains a dedicated partner. We regularly design custom solutions for our Tier 1 suppliers and OEMs to increase productivity, reduce waste, and maximize performance.
Popular Non-Conductive Silicone Foams
Polymer Science offers a range of densities of silicone foams classified into two types: soft silicone foam and firm silicone foam. Technical data sheets are available with specifications and our team is always available for questions and capability.
Soft Silicone Foam
Soft non-conductive silicone foams are used for sealing and shock absorption applications where soft closure force may be required.
- PS-2923
- PS-2924
- PS-2925
Firm Silicone Foam
Firm non-conductive silicone foams may be used for dust and moisture sealing, gap filling, spacer and grips, load distribution and mechanical shock absorption.
- PS-2926
- PS-2927
- PS-2928
Polymer Science Silicone Foams
Polymer Science offers a wide range of non-conductive silicone foams suitable for many applications. With many gasketing and sealing materials readily available, Polymer Science can quickly meet your needs with short lead times and quality support.
The key features of silicone foams include:
- Highly Elastic
- Abrasion Resistant
- Flame Retardant
- Excellent Sealing Capability
- Excellent Durability
- RoHS and HF Compliant
Polymer Science has the capability to customize solutions to suit your design and manufacturing needs. With decades of experience working with Tier 1 suppliers and OEMs of all sizes, we are eager to help you succeed.
Polymer Science
