Silicone rubber is an elastomer (rubber-like material) composed of silicone—itself a polymer—containing silicon together with carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

•    Silicone rubber offers good resistance to extreme temperatures, being able to operate normally from −55 °C to +232 °C.
•    The heat resisting silicone’s long-period serving temperature could reach 250°C, the transient temperature could be 300°C. For special requirements, the Service Temperature could be 300 - 320 °C
•    At the extreme temperatures, the tensile strength, elongation, tear strength and compression set can be far superior to conventional rubbers although still low relative to other materials.
•    Silicone is resistant to hot air, ozone, UV radiation, engine and transmission oils, animal and vegetable fats and oils, and brake fluids.
•    VMQ also has low resistance to mineral oils. Silicone can be compounded to be electrically resistant, conductive, or flame retardant.
•    Compared to organic rubbers, however, silicone rubber has a very low tensile strength.  For this reason, care is needed in designing products to withstand even low imposed loads. The material is also very sensitive to fatigue from cyclic loading.

Typical Applications:
Once mixed and coloured Silicone rubber can be extruded into tubes, strips, solid cords or custom profiles
Cord can be joined to make O-rings and extruded profiles can be joined to make seals.
Silicone can be calendered and vulcanized to sheet and sheets can be cut to different gaskets.
Silicone rubber can be moulded into custom shapes and designs.

Silicone rubbers are widely used in industry. Silicone rubber can be found in a wide variety of products, including: automotive applications; cooking, baking, and food storage products; apparel such as undergarments, sportswear, and footwear; electronics; medical devices and implants; and in home repair and hardware with products such as silicone sealants.

For an excellent example, freeze-tolerant solar water heating panels exploit the elasticity of silicone to repeatedly accommodate the expansion of water on freezing, while its extreme temperature tolerance delivers a lack of brittleness below freezing and excellent tolerance of high temperatures of over 150 °C.