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Views: 5 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2024-05-21 Origin: Site
It is essential to work with R&D engineers who can adjust the many diverse properties of silicone to provide a customized solution that fits your specific application. There is a trade-off with many of the following characteristics, so finding a partner who understands how to balance these factors will be key to your success.
What you need your silicone to do will determine how hard it should be. You want it to be hard enough to protect against abrasion but soft enough to provide cushioning and vibration damping. A hard surface coating is often used to protect sensitive electronics while a very soft coating minimizes stress to a component.
How much stress does your material need to withstand before failure? Adjusting the tensile strength of the silicone determines how much strain the material can endure before tearing. Most silicones typically range between 50 psi and 450 psi.
You may need your silicone to stretch or bend to a specific degree. An application might need to absorb shocks or dampen vibrations, so your silicone would require more “stretchiness.” Or perhaps you need a tight assembly tolerance, so your silicone should have less flexibility. Silicones can typically be formulated with elongation between 50% and 900% by modifying the filler composition.
What substrate do you need the component to adhere to? Your project may call for silicone that can adhere to brass, PET (mylar), gold, stainless steel, copper, polypropylene, or other common metals or plastics used in electronics applications. You’ll want to inform your silicone manufacturer of your substrate so they can modify the adhesion promoters to meet your requirements. Another aspect to consider is the initial green strength. Do you need a fast cure to continue moving the component to the next step, or would a slower cure fit better in your manufacturing process?
Silicone sealants and greases have excellent electric insulating (dielectric) properties, which prevent electronics from shorting or arcing. Expect the R&D team at your silicone provider to work with you to identify and craft the right combination of electrical properties for your application.