Silicone Rubber Sheets are widely used in industrial and lifestyle applications due to their excellent temperature resistance, flexibility and chemical stability. However, there are significant differences in performance, safety and application scenarios between different categories of silicone rubber sheets. In this article, we will take regular silicone rubber sheet and food-grade silicone rubber sheet as the core, from the raw materials, production process, physical properties, application areas and other dimensions of the comparison, to help users choose the right product more accurately.
Ⅰ. Raw materials and composition differences
The key differences between regular silicone rubber sheets and food grade silicone rubber sheets are materials and safety. While regular silicone rubber sheets have basic silicone properties, other chemicals may have been added during the manufacturing process that may release harmful substances under certain conditions, making them unsuitable for direct food contact. In contrast, food grade silicone rubber sheets are made from high quality silicone rubber raw materials that meet strict food safety standards, such as FDA approval. This means that food-grade silicone rubber sheets do not release harmful substances when in contact with food, ensuring food safety and hygiene.
Regular Silicone Rubber Sheet
The raw material is mostly regular silicone (synthesized from silicon oxide), which may contain small amounts of impurities or additives. By-products may be produced during the synthesis process, and trace amounts of harmful substances (such as volatile organic compounds) may be released at high temperatures, making it unsuitable for direct contact with food or the human body. Its density and purity are relatively low, whitening can occur when stretched, and it tends to age and yellow with prolonged use.
Food Grade Silicone Rubber Sheet
It is made of inorganic polymer material (the main component is SiO₂-nH₂O) condensed from high-purity silica, which meets national food safety standards and is free from harmful substances such as bisphenol A (BPA), plasticizers, heavy metals and so on. Its molecular structure is stable, highly transparent, odorless and non-toxic, and it can be directly contacted with food or human body, which is safer.
II. Production process and safety standards
Regular Silicone Rubber Sheet
The production environment and equipment cleanliness requirements are low, and the vulcanisation process is relatively simple, which may leave residues of vulcanising agent or other chemical substances. The surface of the product is easy to adsorb dust, long-term use may cause impurities to accumulate, leading to performance degradation.
Food Grade Silicone Rubber Sheet
The production process requires strict control of environmental cleanliness, and adopts a two-component plus molding vulcanization process to avoid the residue of harmful substances. Passed a number of international certifications, to ensure that the product remains stable under extreme conditions such as high temperature and humidity.
III. Comparison of Physical Properties
Food-grade silicone rubber sheets are superior to regular silicone rubber sheets in terms of temperature range, tear resistance, transparency and appearance, as well as service life on a number of performance indicators, regular silicone rubber sheets perform relatively weakly in all aspects. However, regular silicone rubber sheets may still be able to meet certain application requirements in some scenarios where high performance is not required, while food-grade silicone rubber sheets, with their superior performance, are more advantageous in occasions with higher requirements for safety, durability and long-term use, such as food contact and medical care.
Regular silicone rubber sheet has certain limitations in the basic performance: Its temperature resistance ranges from -40 ℃ to 180 ℃, but long-term high-temperature use is easy to soften and deform; low tear strength, the use of cracks or breakage may occur; the material surface is opaque and easy to yellow with time, and at the same time there is the problem of adherence to the dust; the service life of impurities by the impact of the larger, generally 1-3 years. These characteristics make it more suitable for basic scenes that do not require high durability and appearance.
Food-grade silicone rubber sheet shows a significant increase in comprehensive performance: Through the improvement of high-purity materials, temperature resistance range extended to -50 ℃ to 250 ℃ (some models up to 300 ℃), high temperature stability is outstanding; tear strength of ≥ 20KN – m – ¹ industrial standards, mechanical properties are more reliable; both high-level transparency and aging resistance, long-term use of non-yellowing, the service life can reach more than 5 years, which has significant advantages in the field of food processing, medical equipment and other strict health requirements, fully meet the safety and durability, long-term stability of use of the demand.
IV. Differences in application areas
Regular Silicone Rubber Sheet
Suitable for industrial scenarios with low safety requirements, such as:
1. Electronic and electrical parts (seals, insulating gaskets).
2. Automobile parts (anti-vibration pads, seals).
3. Machinery industry (general seals, cushioning materials).
Food Grade Silicone Rubber Sheet
Designed for high safety standard scenarios, typical applications include:
1. Food processing: baking molds, chocolate remolding, food conveyor belts.
2. Medical field: medical catheters, instrument seals, baby products (pacifiers, bibs).
3. Household appliances: coffee machine seals, rice cooker gaskets.
V. Price and cost-effectiveness
Food-grade silicone rubber sheet is usually 30%~50% more expensive than regular silicone rubber sheet due to higher purity of raw materials and complex production process. However, its long service life, low maintenance cost and safety compliance make it more cost-effective in food, medical and other fields.
Ⅵ. Conclusion
In summary, there are significant differences between regular silicone rubber sheets and food-grade silicone rubber sheets in terms of material safety, physical properties, range of applications, price and cost. Consumers should choose the right silicone sheet products according to their actual needs and application scenarios. If you are in need of silicone rubber sheet products, welcome to visit our website, we offer many kinds of silicone rubber sheets, including regular silicone rubber sheets, food grade silicone rubber sheets, vapor phase silicone rubber sheets, insulating silicone rubber sheets, antistatic silicone rubber sheets, high temperature resistant silicone rubber sheets, and flame retardant silicone rubber sheets, etc., to ensure that we can meet your various needs.
