Silicone sheet is an excellent material for gaskets. However, the characteristics that make it good for sealing joints and surfaces also make it difficult to produce smooth edges.
Why Use Silicone for Gaskets?
Silicone is soft, compressible, and has good elastic recovery, but the most important characteristic is its temperature range. Silicone remains flexible at temperatures from -94 to +392°F, which is wider than almost all other elastomeric materials.
Silicone sheet is produced in many colors and formulations, including FDA-approved grades. Overall, chemical resistance is good, although it is vulnerable to hydrocarbons like oils and fuel.
The Challenge of Cutting Silicone
It’s hard to get a good quality edge or to cut an exact shape. Silicone tears, moves, compresses and springs back, leaving ragged edges that look unattractive and could affect fluid flow and gasket function.
Best Ways of Cutting Silicone Gasket Material
We’ve been producing gaskets for many years and we’re familiar with all types of material. Our preferred ways of cutting silicone are:
- Water jet: Fast, results in smooth edges, and material utilization is good, thanks to the narrow kerf. It requires a CNC program, which we can generate from customers’ CAD files or by reverse engineering an existing gasket.
- Die cutting:The process of using a sharp-edged steel rule bent to the shape of the gasket and embedded in a board. It’s fast, accurate, and achieves excellent edge quality, but if we don’t have a tool available making one will impose a short delay.
- Flash cutting: Uses an oscillating blade to cut through sheet material. Edge quality is good although the process isn’t quite as versatile as water jet for very complex geometries.
- Hand cutting: Sometimes used to avoid setup time on single piece orders. Not as accurate as using automated equipment but with a skilled cutter the results can be very good.
Custom Gaskets Made to Order
We produce gaskets for all kinds of applications and in many different materials. Silicone makes great gaskets but can be hard to cut without experience and the right equipment. We have both. Contact us to learn more.
