silicone transparent rubber gaskets
NEDC manufactures gaskets of all sorts. There are many different types of silicone rubbers. It came as a surprise to me that we have not discussed transparent/clear, or translucent silicone rubber in the 250 odd blogs we have done.
Properties of Clear/Transparent Silicone Gaskets
There is a difference between clear/transparent, and translucent silicone. In this case, we are discussing solid silicone gaskets. You may ask what the difference is, but it’s in the name. Transparent silicone is completely see-through, although not optically clear- while translucent silicone is not see-through but light can shine through it. Transparent silicone has similar properties to other silicone rubber gasketing materials, including its non-stick properties, wide temperature range, and good compression set resistance.
Commercially Available Products of Clear Silicone Rubber Gaskets
HT-6240 BISCO from Rogers Corporation is a high performance clear/transparent silicone rubber. It exhibits high tear strength, and the typical tight tolerances that Rogers HT- solid silicone rubber series offers.
These materials are available in thicknesses of .010’’, .020’’, .032’’, .062’’, and .125’’. Oftentimes, transparent silicones are used as an invisible gasket for cosmetic appeal in commercial electronics. As another example, my faucet at home has a bead of transparent RTV around it, so water doesn’t leak through the aperature between the faucet, and the counter. Typical hardness for these gaskets is usual in 40 Shore A.
Translucent Silicone Products Availability
The availability of translucent silicone is much more diverse than the availability of transparent/clear silicone. It is available in thicknesses ranging from .010’’ to .500’’.
Will Clear/Translucent Silicone Yellow Overtime?
The answer to this is unequivocally yes. Over my time here at NEDC, I have seen many times when transparent/translucent, or clear silicone yellow after being in our temperature controlled stock room for years. Its very obvious transition.
More Information:
At NEDC, we manufacture gaskets through die cutting, waterjet-cutting, knife-cutting and other methods. In addition, we can add adhesive tapes to transparent, and translucent gaskets. For more information on solid rubber silicone materials for gasketing purposes, please contact sales@nedc.com.