Silicone Foam: Applications & Benefits

Silicone Foam: Applications & Benefits

Silicone Foam is a versatile and durable material that can be used in a wide range of applications.

Designed for exceptionally reliable sealing, cushioning and vibration insulation, silicone Foam offers impressive heat resistance and can withstand extremely high and low temperatures without degrading.

What are the properties of silicone Foam?

Silicone Foam is a versatile material with a huge range of beneficial properties that make it suitable for a wide range of applications. Understanding the properties of silicone Foam and silicone sheets can help you identify whether it is the best choice of material for your required application.

Here are some of the key properties of silicone Foam:

✔ Closed cell structure

Silicone Foam is an elastomeric material and is expanded at the time it is heat cured. This process results in a closed cell Foam structure, meaning each cell is a complete closed sphere, trapping air within each cell and creating a natural barrier against moisture, liquids, gases and other environmental elements.

✔ Temperature resistance

Silicone Foam can withstand extremely high and low temperatures, operating within a temperature range between -60 degrees Celsius and 230 degrees Celsius without compromising its structural integrity or high performance.

✔ Environmental resistance

Thanks to its closed cell structure, silicone Foam is highly resistant to moisture, radiation and ozone and UV, allowing it to perform well in even the harshest of environments. This makes it ideal for use in outdoor applications, including sealing for HVAC systems, Aerospace and Marine.

✔ Water resistance

The closed cell structure also means that silicone Foam is also highly water resistant. Capable of meeting ingress protection 67 (IP67), LMS Silicone Foam Sheeting offers water ingress protection to many critical applications in many market sectors.

✔ Compressibility

Silicone Foam offers impressive low compression set, meaning the material will recover quickly when compressed. This is a critical aspect for design engineers when testing sealing materials. The Foam can seamlessly fill gaps and conform to irregular shapes and surfaces due to its excellent flexibility, without jeopardising its structural integrity.

✔ Chemical reactivity

Silicone is an extremely inert material. It does not react to many chemicals and oils however; it does not react well petroleum-based fuels.

What applications can silicone Foam be used for?

With its range of highly favourable properties, silicone Foam can be used in a wide variety of applications, including:

Gaskets and seals

Silicone Foam is commonly used in the Automotive sector to seal, insulate and protect. Silicone sheets are also used within the world of Aerospace to produce die-cut gaskets used to seal the different compartments found in the interior cabin such as overhead storage bins, electronic components and HVAC seals.

Thermal insulation

Silicone Foam’s heat-resistant properties make it a great material for insulating industrial equipment, including valves and pipes, as well as gap filling and thermal insulation.

Shock absorption and cushioning

Silicone Foam can be used to prevent vibration, rattle and squeak in Automotive, Aerospace, Rail and other Mass Transit transportation.

Food processing equipment

Silicone Foam is widely used in food processing equipment due to its non-toxic and heat-resistant properties. Typically used as seals and gaskets, silicone Foam can withstand high heat applications

Construction industry

In the construction industry, silicone Foam is used for sealing, insulation and protection. Creating seals and gaskets for HVAC systems, glazing and doors seals and improving the energy efficiency of buildings.

What are the benefits of silicone Foam?

Silicone Foam is a versatile material with a whole host of benefits, including:

• Wide operating temperature (-60°C to 250°C)

• Extremely low water absorption

• Environmental resistance

• Low Compression Set

• Durability

How can we help?

LAIMES Silicone is the leading silicone Foam sheeting manufacturer in the China – we are experts in calendared closed cell silicone Foam.

Manufactured on state-of-the-art processing lines, our LMS-TA Silicone Foam range is known across industries for providing excellent thermal insulation, physical performance and temperature resistance in many applications.

Our new fully FDA-approved silicone Foam sheeting is the ideal material for applications in the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industry. Ideal for seals, gaskets and more.

To find out more about the silicone Foam sheeting products we offer please get in touch.