What is the difference between Silicone Rubber and EPDM?
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Silicone and EPDM are two commonly used rubbers in industrial applications, with Silicone acting as a general use rubber while EPDM is more specialized.We will be covering the basics of what EPDM and Silicone rubber are, as well as their similarities and differences, to help you understand which rubber works better for certain applications.
It is a popular choice for outdoor and harsh environment applications due to its resistance to water, heat and cold, weather, ozone, UV rays, steam, electricity, and abrasion.Polymethylene is made up of a single bond.The flaws of this material are its inability to resist oil, grease, hydrocarbon fuel, concentrated acid, and halogenated solvent.It's used in roofing, plumbing, and automotive applications.
Silicone is best known for its flexibility and temperature resistance.It is also flame resistant, gas permeable, and non-toxic.Silicone rubber is elastic and attached to organic molecules.Silicone rubber is created by mixing the resulting material with chemicals and passing it through hydrocarbons.
Silicone isn't resistant to steam, hydrocarbon fuel, alkali, acid, trichloroethylene, or aromatic hydrocarbons.The material is used in a wide range of applications.
Silicone is better for more general uses than EPDM, but their key differences are in the width of their applications.Electricity, weather, ozone, and UV resistance are some of the things that both rubbers have.
Silicone is more expensive than it is flexible.The material is able to function under much higher temperatures than EPDM, with a range of about 150 degrees F more at 446 F (230 C), while still being capable of functioning at the same minimum temperatures.Silicone and EPDM are both used for food safe purposes.Silicone has a better compression set and longer lifespan than automotive fluids that break down.
The rubber that costs less and performs better is called EPDM.Silicone swells when exposed to water, while EPDM stays constant.It is more resistant to steam, being able to function in steam up to 392 degrees F (200 C) without air, while Silicone can only function at a higher temperature.The tensile strength of silicone is three times that of EPDM, while the rubber has more abrasion and weather resistance.
Silicone and EPDM have pros and cons, depending on the application they are used for.You can find more information on these and other types of rubber in our buyer's guide.We can help with that as well.More than 170 EPDM and 120 Silicone suppliers can be found on our Supplier Discovery page.
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