Silicone and rubber? Which is better? from zhang Hui's blog

Silicone and rubber each have their own advantages, and which one is "better" depends on the specific application requirements. The two have great differences in characteristics, performance and usage scenarios, so there is no absolute "good" or "bad", but to choose the right material according to the needs. The following is a comparison between the two to help you decide which material is more suitable for your needs:

1. High temperature resistance

Silicone: Better than rubber. Silicone has excellent high temperature resistance and can withstand temperatures above 200°C. Some high-quality silicone can even withstand temperatures up to 250°C. It is not easy to deform and is suitable for high temperature environments.

Rubber: Natural rubber and most synthetic rubbers have limited high temperature resistance and generally cannot withstand temperatures exceeding 70-100°C. Under ultra-high temperature conditions, rubber tends to soften, age, and even melt.

Choose silicone when it is suitable for high temperature environments.

2. Low temperature resistance

Silicone: It can still maintain flexibility at low temperatures, will not harden or crack, and is suitable for extremely cold environments.

Rubber: Many types of rubber tend to harden at low temperatures, lose elasticity, and are prone to cracking or becoming brittle.

Choose silicone for cold environments.

3. Weather resistance and anti-aging

Silicone: Resistant to UV rays, ozone, oxidation, etc., it can be exposed to the outdoors for a long time without degradation, and is not easy to age. It is suitable for applications that are exposed to sunlight, air or other harsh environments for a long time.
Rubber: Rubber has poor weather resistance, especially natural rubber, which is easily affected by UV rays, ozone, etc., and is prone to aging, cracking and hardening. Synthetic rubber is slightly better than natural rubber in this regard, but still inferior to silicone.

Choose silicone for long-term exposure to the outdoors.

4. Elasticity and flexibility

Silicone: It has good elasticity, soft feel, and remains flexible especially at low temperatures. It is suitable for soft and comfortable products such as toys, seals, etc.
Rubber: Rubber has very good elasticity and is suitable for products that require strong elasticity, such as tires, shock absorbers, etc. It has a strong ability to withstand mechanical stress.

If extremely strong elasticity and load capacity are required, choose rubber.

5. Water resistance

Silicone: It has excellent water resistance and is usually not affected by moisture. It is often used in underwater equipment or applications that require waterproofing.

Rubber: Most rubbers perform well in water, but some types of rubber (such as natural rubber) may swell or deform after long-term contact with water.
Choose silicone for waterproof applications.

6. Chemical stability

Silicone: Silicone has good corrosion resistance to most chemicals and can withstand corrosive substances such as oils, acids, and alkalis, making it very suitable for use in chemical environments.

Rubber: Rubber has poor tolerance to certain chemicals (such as strong acids, strong alkalis, solvents, etc.) and is prone to aging or damage.

Choose silicone in chemical environments.

7. Processing and cost
Silicone: The processing process of silicone is relatively complex and usually requires higher production costs, especially high-performance silicone (such as food-grade and medical-grade silicone) is more expensive.

Rubber: The raw material cost of rubber (especially natural rubber) is relatively low, the production process is mature, and the processing is simple, so the cost is usually low.
If the budget is limited and there are no special performance requirements, rubber may be a more suitable choice.

8. Applications
Silicone: Due to its superior high temperature resistance, chemical resistance and anti-aging performance, it is widely used in food containers, medical equipment, adult toys, seals, kitchen supplies and other fields.

Rubber: Rubber is widely used, especially in the automotive, construction, machinery, aviation and other industries, for making tires, shock absorbers, seals, gaskets, drive belts, etc.

Summary:
Choose silicone: If you need excellent high temperature resistance, low temperature resistance, weather resistance, chemical resistance, and have high requirements for softness and comfort (such as medical equipment, sextorso, seals, kitchen supplies, etc.), silicone is a better choice.

Choose rubber: If your needs focus more on elasticity, wear resistance, strong load capacity, and limited budget (such as tires, seals, shock absorbers, drive belts, etc.), rubber will be a more suitable choice.

Therefore, there is no absolutely better material, the key is whether their performance meets your specific needs.