Outdoor rubber components can face weather, ozone, moisture, and changing temperatures throughout their service life. For manufacturers working in these conditions, silicone rubber weather resistance is one reason silicone is considered for demanding applications. Its resistance to weathering and ozone, along with its temperature performance and flexibility across changing conditions, gives manufacturers a versatile option when environmental exposure is part of the application.
At Reiss Manufacturing, we work with customers to formulate and manufacture silicone rubber products based on their specific requirements. Our silicone formulations offer exceptional performance in adverse environments, and our capabilities allow us to take a project from custom compounding through production.
Choosing Silicone for Harsh Environments
The conditions surrounding the finished component can help determine whether silicone and a particular formulation are appropriate for the application.
Before selecting a material, manufacturers should consider questions such as:
- Will the component be installed outdoors or exposed to weather?
- Will it encounter ozone?
- Will temperatures change significantly during use?
- Will moisture be present?
- Will chemicals, oils, fuels, or other fluids contact the part?
- Does the component need to remain flexible as conditions change?
- What geometry does the finished part require?
- Will it be molded, extruded, calendered, or fabricated?
Answering these questions early can help narrow the material and manufacturing requirements for the finished component.
This is particularly important when environmental exposure is only one part of the application. A compound that addresses one requirement still needs to work with the design, manufacturing process, and other conditions the part will encounter.
What Makes Silicone Suitable for Outdoor Environments?
Silicone is known for resistance to weathering and ozone, as well as its ability to remain flexible across changing temperature conditions. These characteristics can be valuable for seals, gaskets, tubing, sheeting, molded components, and extruded profiles used in demanding environments.
The right material still depends on what the finished component needs to do. An outdoor part may encounter changing temperatures and moisture in addition to general weather exposure. Part geometry, manufacturing method, and contact with chemicals or fluids may also influence material selection.
The formulation matters as well. Silicone is a broad material family, and different formulations can be developed to meet different physical requirements. At Reiss, we maintain more than 750 developed formulations and can work with customers to select or formulate a compound for their application.
Weather, Ozone, and Outdoor Exposure
Weather and ozone are common considerations for rubber components used outdoors. Silicone’s resistance to both allows it to be considered for components that spend part or all of their service life in outdoor environments.
This combination can be useful when a component has to meet multiple environmental requirements. Outdoor exposure rarely involves just one condition, so it is important to understand the full environment surrounding the finished part.
For example, a component may be exposed to weather while also needing to remain flexible as temperatures change. Another may encounter moisture along with other environmental conditions. Looking at these requirements together gives manufacturers a clearer picture of what the material and finished component need to accomplish.
Temperature Changes and Flexibility
Temperature performance is another characteristic that makes silicone useful in demanding applications. Silicone is particularly well suited to applications where heat resistance is a primary concern, while its ability to remain flexible across changing temperature conditions can also be important for seals and other components.
Specific formulations can be developed when an application has more demanding requirements. Our custom formulating, mixing, and milling capabilities allow for a spectrum of extreme temperatures from -130ºF to +600ºF (intermittent).
Not every silicone formulation has the same properties, which is why the compound should be matched to the requirements of the application. Our in-house compounding capabilities give us the ability to work with customers on specific physical requirements, rather than treating all silicone compounds as interchangeable.
Custom Silicone Formulations at Reiss Manufacturing
Selecting or formulating the ideal compound for an application has been at the heart of our operation since 1946. At Reiss Manufacturing, we are technical experts in mixing custom silicone and fluorosilicone. We work with silicone (VMQ) and fluorosilicone (FVMQ) in both solid and sponge forms, and our capabilities include platinum and peroxide cure systems, general-purpose grade compounds, low-temperature formulas, and custom formulations for specific physical requirements.
Our in-house chemist works with customers on technical challenges, and we have more than 750 developed formulations. Our compounding capabilities cover a durometer range of 10 to 90 Shore A, along with translucent, transparent, standard colors, and color matches.
Formulating, weighing, mixing, and milling are completed on-site. Once the material is milled, it can be packaged and shipped directly to customers or moved into our calendering, extrusion, or molding departments for further processing. This gives us the ability to work with both the material and the finished component rather than separating the two stages of production.
Manufacturing Silicone Components after Formulation
Once a silicone compound has been selected, the manufacturing process needs to match the design and specifications of the finished component. Our silicone manufacturing capabilities include rubber molding, extrusion, calendering, and fabrication. These processes allow us to manufacture silicone in different forms, including molded components, extruded profiles, tubing, and sheeting.
The appropriate process depends on the part itself. Geometry, physical requirements, production needs, and the intended operating environment all play a role in determining how the component should be manufactured.
Our markets include energy and utilities, automotive and transportation, construction, military and defense, aerospace, medical, and satellites and telecommunications. Each market presents different requirements, which is why the material, formulation, component design, and manufacturing process need to be considered together.
Work With Reiss Manufacturing on Your Next Silicone Component
If you have a drawing, specification, or silicone component ready for development or production, contact Reiss Manufacturing to request a quote. We can review your requirements and determine how our silicone formulation and manufacturing capabilities align with your project.
Silicone Rubber Weather Resistance FAQs
Yes. Silicone offers resistance to weathering, allowing it to be considered for components used in outdoor environments.
Silicone can be considered for outdoor applications because of characteristics including resistance to weathering and ozone, temperature performance, and flexibility across changing temperature conditions.
Yes. Ozone resistance is one of the characteristics associated with silicone and can be useful for components exposed to outdoor conditions.
Temperature should be considered when selecting a silicone compound. Silicone is particularly well suited to applications where temperature performance is important, but the appropriate formulation depends on the requirements of the application.
Yes. Our capabilities include low-temperature PVMQ formulas rated to -120°F.
Silicone is valued for remaining flexible across changing temperature conditions, which can be useful for seals and other components used in demanding environments.
Yes. Moisture may be one part of the operating environment and should be considered alongside temperature, weather exposure, chemicals or fluids, and the requirements of the finished component.
Yes. We specialize in mixing custom silicone and fluorosilicone and have more than 750 developed formulations. We can also formulate materials to specific physical requirements.
We work with silicone (VMQ) and fluorosilicone (FVMQ) in both solid and sponge forms.
Our capabilities include custom formulating, mixing and milling, molding, extrusion, calendering, and secondary fabrication.
Our formulating, mixing, and milling capabilities cover a range of 10 to 90 Shore A.
Selection should begin with the requirements of the finished component. Weather and ozone exposure, temperature, moisture, chemicals or fluids, flexibility, geometry, and manufacturing method can all be relevant considerations.
