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Temperature (The Most Critical Factor)
Long-Term Operating Temperature: Silicone strips are renowned for their high-temperature resistance, but their lifespan is inversely proportional to temperature. Below 120°C, they can operate stably for an exceptionally long time (over 15 years). For every 10°C increase in temperature, their aging rate accelerates significantly (following the Arrhenius Law). At 150°C to 200°C, lifespan shortens to several years or less. Above 200°C, rapid hardening and loss of elasticity occur.
Short-Term Peak Temperature: Occasional brief high-temperature exposure (e.g., 250°C for a short duration) may not immediately destroy the seal, but it causes irreversible damage to its molecular structure. The cumulative effect reduces overall lifespan.
Low temperatures: Silicone exhibits excellent low-temperature resistance (-60°C to -70°C), but becomes hard and brittle at extreme lows. Bending or impact at these temperatures can easily cause cracking or fracture. Environmental media (ozone, UV, chemicals)
Outdoor Weathering (UV/Ozone): This is the greatest adversary for silicone rubber strips in outdoor applications. Although silicone exhibits significantly better ozone resistance than conventional rubbers (e.g., natural rubber), prolonged exposure to sunlight, rain, and ozone erosion can still cause subtle surface chalking and cracking. Ultimately, it loses gloss, hardens, and loses elasticity.
Chemicals: Silicone exhibits good tolerance to weak acids, weak alkalis, and alcohols. However, it is susceptible to corrosion by concentrated acids, concentrated alkalis, strong oxidizing agents, and certain organic solvents (e.g., toluene, gasoline), leading to swelling, decomposition, or performance degradation.
Mechanical Stress
Compression Set: This is the most common form of seal failure. If silicone strips remain compressed for extended periods (e.g., in window/door seals), they gradually lose their resilience. Even after pressure is released, they cannot return to their original shape, resulting in seal failure. High-quality silicone raw materials (such as high-purity pyrolytic silicone) exhibit lower compression set rates. Persistent Tension, Friction, Vibration: These mechanical actions accelerate fatigue aging, causing crack initiation and propagation.
Product Quality
Raw Material Quality: High-purity silicone rubber produced via the gas-phase process exhibits significantly longer service life than standard silicone rubber manufactured using the precipitation process.
Production Process: Uniformity of mixing and adequacy of vulcanization (curing) directly impact internal structural stability and longevity.
Long-Term Operating Temperature: Silicone strips are renowned for their high-temperature resistance, but their lifespan is inversely proportional to temperature. Below 120°C, they can operate stably for an exceptionally long time (over 15 years). For every 10°C increase in temperature, their aging rate accelerates significantly (following the Arrhenius Law). At 150°C to 200°C, lifespan shortens to several years or less. Above 200°C, rapid hardening and loss of elasticity occur.
Short-Term Peak Temperature: Occasional brief high-temperature exposure (e.g., 250°C for a short duration) may not immediately destroy the seal, but it causes irreversible damage to its molecular structure. The cumulative effect reduces overall lifespan.
Low temperatures: Silicone exhibits excellent low-temperature resistance (-60°C to -70°C), but becomes hard and brittle at extreme lows. Bending or impact at these temperatures can easily cause cracking or fracture. Environmental media (ozone, UV, chemicals)
Outdoor Weathering (UV/Ozone): This is the greatest adversary for silicone rubber strips in outdoor applications. Although silicone exhibits significantly better ozone resistance than conventional rubbers (e.g., natural rubber), prolonged exposure to sunlight, rain, and ozone erosion can still cause subtle surface chalking and cracking. Ultimately, it loses gloss, hardens, and loses elasticity.
Chemicals: Silicone exhibits good tolerance to weak acids, weak alkalis, and alcohols. However, it is susceptible to corrosion by concentrated acids, concentrated alkalis, strong oxidizing agents, and certain organic solvents (e.g., toluene, gasoline), leading to swelling, decomposition, or performance degradation.
Mechanical Stress
Compression Set: This is the most common form of seal failure. If silicone strips remain compressed for extended periods (e.g., in window/door seals), they gradually lose their resilience. Even after pressure is released, they cannot return to their original shape, resulting in seal failure. High-quality silicone raw materials (such as high-purity pyrolytic silicone) exhibit lower compression set rates. Persistent Tension, Friction, Vibration: These mechanical actions accelerate fatigue aging, causing crack initiation and propagation.
Product Quality
Raw Material Quality: High-purity silicone rubber produced via the gas-phase process exhibits significantly longer service life than standard silicone rubber manufactured using the precipitation process.
Production Process: Uniformity of mixing and adequacy of vulcanization (curing) directly impact internal structural stability and longevity.
