Industrial silicone: properties, applications and custom processing

Silicone is one of the most widely used materials in modern industry thanks to its exceptional physical and chemical properties, which make it suitable for many applications in a wide range of sectors, from engineering to medicine and from automotive to construction. But what exactly is silicone and what are its main uses?

In this article we look at everything you need to know about this excellent material and about the processing offered by Corti Srl.

What is silicone?

Silicone is an inorganic synthetic polymer made of a chain of silicon and oxygen atoms combined with organic groups. This stable chemical structure gives the material many advantages over other polymers or synthetic rubbers.

Properties of silicone

Thanks to its chemical structure, silicone has excellent characteristics and properties:

• Thermal stability: it keeps its properties over a wide temperature range, from -80 °C to +250 °C. More precisely, it has excellent resistance to high temperatures and excellent flexibility and elasticity at low temperatures.
• Flexibility and elasticity: it is highly flexible and elastic under mechanical deformation.
• Water repellence: it is waterproof and resistant to humidity.
• Resistance to weathering and ageing: it has excellent resistance to ozone and UV radiation and keeps its characteristics even after prolonged exposure to adverse environmental conditions. It is also a material that lasts a long time.
• Chemical resistance: it resists many chemicals; for example, it is not damaged by oils and solvents.
• Insulating properties: it is an excellent thermal insulator thanks to its thermal stability, and an excellent electrical insulator.
• Biocompatibility and non-toxicity

Industrial applications of silicone

Thanks to its properties, silicone is a very versatile material used in a wide range of industrial sectors.

Because of its thermal stability and mechanical properties, it is widely used to produce seals, sealants and protective coatings that improve the energy efficiency of buildings, and in applications with strict fire protection requirements. Its insulating properties also make it a good material for electronic components and electrical cable sheathing.

More generally, thanks to its thermal stability and chemical resistance, it is used in advanced industrial applications.

Its weathering resistance makes it suitable for components in the construction and automotive sectors. Its biocompatibility, on the other hand, makes it suitable for medical devices and for products in the food sector.

Combining aesthetics and functionality, this material is also the perfect choice for design pieces such as vases and furnishing items. The great Italian artist and design master Gaetano Pesce was among the first to introduce silicone into contemporary design, marking a turning point for the sector. What made this choice extraordinary was the wish to select contemporary materials that could express the dynamism and instability of today’s society.

In Pesce’s view, materials are not tools but conceptual expressions, as he said in an interview: “I see them as an expression of this liquid time, in which values change constantly and quickly.”

Silicone processing at Corti Srl

Corti Srl stands out in the design and custom production of silicone articles using compression moulding.

Thanks to its long experience in silicone moulding, Corti Srl is the ideal partner for producing components as varied as suction cups, seals and buttons for armchairs and chesterfield sofas, as well as products certified for medical and food use.

Another example is silicone rubber components with metal inserts. The company specialises in a wide range of silicone products suited to every industrial need and to many areas of everyday life.

For specific, tailored advice, please contact our company directly: our team will be happy to provide all the information you need.

Why choose silicone for your industrial applications?

Silicone semi-finished products are used in so many industrial sectors because they can meet the most diverse requirements in situations where other materials would not perform as well.

Silicone is a reliable solution in critical applications where the quality and functionality of the material are essential, for example extreme temperatures, aggressive chemicals or adverse weather, but also wear and biologically sensitive environments.

Contact us for more information.