It is because silicone rubber, which is also called elastomer, is one of the most extensively used materials that have wide range of applications and are known for their high tensile strength. Silicon rubber is many times called a wonder material since can bear great pressure and stretch. In this paper, we will discuss silicone rubber and its surprising tensile strength properties.
The Exceptional robustness of silicone rubber
A man-made material called silicone rubber consists of silicon, oxygen, carbon and hydrogen which are the four elements forming silicone. The composition is unique and provides silicon rubber with many favorable features, including tensile strength. Tensile strength is a measure of how much tensile stress a material can withstand up to its limit of stretching. Surprisingly, silicone rubber enjoys similar or even better tensile strength than conventional engineering items such as steel.
Silicone’s Molecular Structure: A Recipe for Strength
A molecular basis for silicone rubber’s strong tensile stress. Silicone rubber is composed at its molecular level by long-chain polymers built up by repeating units, which comprise silicon and oxygen. The covalent bonds hold these chains together resulting in a much stronger structure as compared to the others. These bonds are very resilient making it possible for the material to endure the pull out or traction action.
Additionally, silicon’s molecular structure gives it very high elasticity. These long polymer chains are able to rearrange readily in reaction to applied force, resulting in a uniform flow dissipation throughout the material. Such a built-in flexibility does not result in localized tensile concentration, thus allowing this material to be immune from tension cracking.
Temperature Resistance and Tensile Strength
Silicone rubber possesses high tensile strength at high and low temperatures. Silicone rubber, on the other hand, maintains stiffness at very low temperatures and stays intact under normal conditions, even after heating due to a change in temperature. It is therefore an apt pick for tensile-strength demanding applications, especially amid unfavourable climatic conditions.
Moreover, this extraordinary temperature resistance can be attributed to the characteristics of the silicon-oxygen bonds that stay unchanged at various temperatures. Silicone rubber is dependable on both under zero temperatures as well as in extremely hot climate circumstances.
Uses of a New Hi-Tensil Silicone Rubber
There are many industrial applications that utilize high tensile strength of silicone rubber. Some of the key sectors benefiting from this remarkable material include:
Aerospace
Silicon rubber has an excellent property of resisting high temperature and pressure environment and therefore, it is suitable for use in space components and seals.
Medical Devices
High strain tolerance of silicone makes it a reliable material for such medical devices as catheters, prosthesis implants and others in medical application.
Automotive
Silicone rubber gaskets and seals are strong enough to withstand engine heat and vibrations in the automobile industry.
Electronics
It shows good performance against electrical & thermal stresses when silicone rubber used in electronic components.
Construction
For example, silicone rubber’s resilience is important as a sealant or gasket for various types of structures in the buildings.
Food and Beverage Industry
It is also applied in food grade areas like sealing and gaskets in process equipments.
Round Up
The impressive flexibility and tensile strength of silicone rubber exemplify its unique qualities. As a result, its molecular uniqueness, its response to high temperatures, and its capacity to endure pressure place it at the forefront as one of the most preferred options in numerous industries. Silicon rubber is considered an exceptional tensile material, it has allowed safe transportation of people in aerospaice and has led to improvement of medical diapasons’ reliableness. Looking at tomorrow, silicone rubber will still continue to be amongst the strongest materials for the next wave of advanced applications.
