Custom Molded Silicone Parts: Seals & Gaskets
TL;DR – Article Takeaways
- Lake Erie Rubber is an ISO 9001-certified rubber manufacturer specializing in challenging elastomers like silicone, FKM, nitrile, EPDM, and neoprene.
- Silicone rubber parts are required for applications with extreme temperature ranges, exposure to UV, and non-toxic requirements, such as medical parts or consumer goods.
- Lake Erie Rubber manufactures custom silicone rubber seals and gaskets that can withstand consistent force, temperature ranges, and corrosive conditions.
- Disadvantages of silicone rubber include higher price points, swelling after exposure to oils, and reduced shear strength compared to other elastomers.
Customized Silicone Rubber Parts & Components
Custom-molded silicone parts, such as seals and gaskets, are frequently specified for projects that require resistance to UV exposure, ozone, and water, as well as a wide range of temperatures. Lake Erie Rubber, an ISO 9001-certified rubber molding company, has worked with countless industries to produce silicone rubber components destined for specialized applications. From advanced aerospace projects to medical and electronic parts, custom-molded silicone parts are changing the way these industries approach unique challenges and part designs. Continue reading to learn more about how Lake Erie Rubber manufactures silicone seals, gaskets, O-rings, and other parts, and how it can develop custom solutions that optimize quality at competitive prices.
What Makes Silicone Rubber So Advantageous?
Silicone rubber is a synthetic rubber elastomer first developed in the early 1940s during World War II to meet specific and evolving demands in the aerospace sector. The same properties that made silicone rubber so valuable in the war efforts contribute to its viability for medical devices, complex assemblies, and consumer goods today.
- Thermal Operating Range: Silicone maintains stability in a broad range of temperatures, making it suitable for extreme cold as well as extreme heat. With an approximate range of –76°F to +446°F (-60°C to +230°C), custom molded silicone rubber parts function in ovens, engines, outdoors, and in electronics with heat-generating components.
- Flexibility & Compression: Silicone is known for maintaining its elasticity through thousands of cycles and is known to resist permanent deformation. This quality makes custom silicone rubber gaskets and custom silicone seals among the most common parts manufactured at Lake Erie Rubber.
- Environmental Resistance: To withstand consistent use in outdoor environments, food-grade applications, aerospace projects, and medical applications, silicone rubber can withstand exposure to UV, ozone, oxidation, moisture, steam, and a select range of oils or chemicals.
- Electrical Insulation: Custom molded silicone rubber parts are known to possess predictable and reliable insulating performance across a wide temperature range, making it an ideal elastomer choice for various electrical connectors, keypads, enclosures, and sealing interfaces for high-voltage equipment.
- Low VOC & Toxicity: In a world that prioritizes sustainability and green solutions, silicone rubber parts do not leach harmful substances and do not contribute other harmful chemicals to the environment during production.
ISO 9001-Certified Silicone Rubber Molder of Custom Parts
Due to the exceptional operating conditions expected of silicone rubber parts, it’s extremely important to work with an ISO 9001-certified rubber manufacturer like Lake Erie Rubber. The guiding principles of the ISO certification cover everything from verifying the quality of the raw silicone rubber materials through the manufacturing process, and eventually the final part inspections.
The team at Lake Erie Rubber, relying on decades of combined experience on the shop floor, understands the importance of repeatable quality and predictable results. Whether that means a short-run prototype batch or full-scale production runs, each custom silicone rubber part meets designated tolerances and precise material performance. With many OEMs specifying parts with complex shapes, thin-walls, and diverse functionalities, maintaining ISO 9001 quality management standards is essential to Lake Erie’s success in the industrial, medical, and aerospace environments.
Custom Silicone Gasket Manufacturer
Lake Erie Rubber is a custom silicone gasket manufacturer, supporting customers in the aerospace, transportation, industrial equipment, and consumer goods industries. These uniquely developed gaskets maintain their elastic properties and sealing performance in extreme temperatures and environments. With exceptional resistance to UV-exposure, ozone, and moisture, a custom silicone gasket can help address the shortcomings of other elastomers and provide durable solutions to unique challenges.
Custom Silicone Seal Manufacturer
Custom silicone seals are specially designed and manufactured by Lake Erie Rubber under ISO 9001 standards to meet customer demands for mechanical loading strength, abrasion resistance, and exposure to certain chemicals. Lake Erie Rubber has experience producing silicone seals for both static and dynamic sealing applications, creating reliable barrier performance for equipment like pumps, valves, and other assemblies expected to perform in challenging thermal or pressure conditions.
FAQs About Custom Molded Silicone Rubber Parts
What makes silicone a good elastomer for custom parts?
Depending on the end application, silicone rubber offers excellent temperature stability, compression resistance, and durable performance. It is an ideal choice for high-performance gaskets, seals, and vibration-damping components.
Can Lake Erie Rubber support prototyping and production volumes?
Yes. Lake Erie Rubber has a diverse set of equipment and experience that can handle small-run prototyping projects and full-scale production runs. The ISO 9001-certified manufacturing ensures consistent quality regardless of order volume.
What industries frequently specify the need for custom-molded silicone parts?
Custom parts molded from silicone rubber are used across the medical device, electronic, transportation, industrial equipment, and fluid-handling assemblies that require reliable sealing, insulation, and vibration resistance.
Are there design limitations when working with silicone for custom components?
Silicone rubber is a diverse elastomer suitable for a variety of product designs and features. It can support thin-wall sections, complex shapes or geometries, and other unique modifications specifically required for niche usages.
Get A Quote for Custom Molded Silicone
Lake Erie Rubber gives manufacturers a dependable partner for engineered silicone components that must perform reliably in demanding environments. Their ISO 9001-certified molding processes, material versatility, and ability to produce precise gaskets, seals, and complex geometries allow OEMs to secure consistent quality across every production run. This combination of technical capability, responsive service, and application-focused engineering makes them a trusted source for high-performance custom molded silicone parts.
