Ready-to-use silicone elastomer compounds

Silicone rubber elastomers are used across the automotive, consumer goods, healthcare and high voltage insulation markets. Their ability to be used in extreme operating temperatures, as well as their ozone resistance, electrical conductivity, flame resistance and physiological inertness make them a very good choice to consider for a wide variety of elastomeric parts.

According to Momentive, the company’s custom elastomers are among the widest range of silicone rubber materials available today, able to meet varying but exacting cost, durability and performance standards. They are engineered to help give customers a competitive advantage and the opportunity to generate new business within a variety of applications, says the company.

With Momentive’s enhanced custom elastomer service, customers can typically achieve the precise specification of each silicone rubber compound they require within a short lead-time, says the company. This service can help customers avoid the drawbacks of self-mixing, such as investment in costly production equipment, holding inventory and unnecessary additional processing. Custom elastomers can provide a number of important benefits, including:

• Made-to-order batches, ensuring material is delivered in its freshest state, with maximum shelf life
• Customer specific grades, which help eliminate the need to hold multiple base products, thus reducing inventory levels and improving working capital
• Custom formulation, format and supply, to enhance productivity

To support this fast-growing segment, Momentive can formulate a product to meet specifications, or can help to develop a product to optimise the given production process in operation. According to Momentive, the company will normally provide a qualified response within 24 hours from a compound specialist, who can bring custom compounding expertise directly on-site to test solutions, on customers’ own equipment.

While it is technically possible to mix silicone compounds in customer-owned mixing plants, it is normally not favoured, in order to avoid cross-contamination of other organic elastomers. Momentive’s compounding centre near Manchester, UK, is a compounding site that specialises in silicone compounds exclusively. This includes the platinum-catalysed Addisil product line, manufactured in a dedicated production area, as well as peroxide curable HCR and fluorosilicone compounds.

Momentive custom elastomers are available from local manufacturing sites in Europe, USA, Brazil, India, and China.