A-A-59588 2A/2B with PSA
I thought I’d make a blog about the material any good gasket maker should recognize off the top of their head. That gasket material would be the current A-A-59588 Class 2A/2B. Everytime I see these materials, I smile because I know that there’s a good chance we have this material at NEDC in stock. The reason for this is A-A-59588 Class 2A/2B are the most common silicone rubber specifications available in the gasket industry.
Why is Silicone Rubber so Special?
Before we get into the most common type of silicone rubber gasketing material in our industry. I wanted to provide a brief overview of the properties of silicone rubber.
It is: high temperature, low compression set, no-stick properties, remains flexible at a low temperature, seals out water, and more.
Class 2 – A-A-59588 Class 2A/2B
Class 2 is (low temperature resistance down to -80°F), and high temperature resistance up to 425°F. The specification also recognizes it into two different further subclasses, 2A and 2B:
Class 2A – High Temperature Resistant
Durometer/Grades Available: 25, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80
Class 2B – High Temperature Resistant / Low Compression Set
Durometer/Grades Available: 40, 50, 60, 70, 80
Overlapping of Specifications of Silicone Rubber of A-A-59588
Oftentimes Class 2A, and Class 2B are the same material, however they are not always. The reason for this is because the two materials are so close in characteristics. In addition to that, many times they are also compliant to the respective AMS specifications, AMS-3301, AMS-3302, AMS-3303, and AMS-3304 – similarly, this is not always the case. Typically, the industry recognizes these materials are “General Purpose Silicone Rubber”. Some in our industry, when your own the phone refer to the products as 2A/2B, or Class 2A/2B. Many silicone rubber gaskets meet, for example one of the AMS specs while also meeting A-A-59588, and ZZR765. There is some reasoning behind this.
Previous Specification of A-A-59588 Silicone Rubber, ZZR-765
In 2001, A-A-59588 replaced ZZR765. ZZR765 was a silicone rubber specification that offered the same products that A-A-59588 did before. Low temperature, High Temperature, and others. However, ZZR765 was replaced by A-A-59588, and there were minor changes such as the Tear, and Flex Resistance. Or as another example, A-A-59588 removed Class 2Bs grade 25. For this reason, it is a good idea that manufacturer certify to the correct standard.
Wait, was there a specification before ZZR765? Yes, that was MIL-R-5847, back in 1991 ZZR765 was created to replace that.
Applications for General Purpose Silicone Rubber Gasketing
-Gasketing/Sealing
-Flood lights, LED Lights, LCD Lights, Spotlights
-Dielectric Barriers/Electrical Insulation
-Solder Equipment
aircraft for silicone rubber applications
aircraft for silicone rubber applications
Commercial General Purpose Silicone Rubber Gaskets
CHR 9030, 9040, 9050, 9060, 9070 (30 Shore A to 70 Shore A) aka Norseal Datasheet Download
IST26 – Intersil Silicones – Available in durometers ranging from 30 Shore A, to 70 Shore A. Datasheet Download Note: Intersil Silicones offers custom thicknesses & custom colors. This can be good for atypical applications.
More Information/Availiablity
Typically general purpose silicone rubber is provided in the standard rusty-red color. However, different colors are available upon request. NEDC die-cuts/waterjet cuts these gasket materials to make custom shape flat gaskets. In addition, NEDC can provide these materials with an acrylic adhesive backing for ease in application. For more information on gaskets made of A-A-59588 2A/2B, please contact sales@nedc.com. Also, for more comprehensive information regarding these materials, search out the specification A-A-59588.