The current medical device industry has shown a preference for liquid silicone rubber medical materials. Because it is different from the rubber to which some users are allergic, liquid silicone rubber has low sensitivity. Liquid silica gel does not contain phthalates in PVC, a plasticizer found in experiments to disrupt the endocrine system and damage the reproductive and nervous systems.

With the same chemical inertness and temperature resistance of liquid silicone rubber, it has a long shelf life and service life. The silicone supplier suggests that the raw material should be processed within six months, but in fact the cast parts containing silicone rubber can be stored indefinitely, although the caster recommends a maximum of three years. The durability of this medical material extends the life of corresponding medical devices, benefiting both manufacturers and end users.

Silicone is suitable for use in medical devices

However, cost is a drawback of liquid silicone rubber. Compared with other raw materials, such as thermoplastic elastomers and thermoplastic polyurethanes, silicone resin is 3-5 times more expensive. The production cycle is longer, twice as long.

Cheaper thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) can be used in applications where cost considerations are not required for the properties of liquid silicone rubber such as temperature resistance, compression deformation, and chemical inertia.

With the medical device industry's growing awareness of the medical materials used in products, liquid silicone rubber's unique special properties have expanded its application scope. As these properties become more widely known, new applications and an expanding market are driving the wider use of liquid silicone rubber in medical devices.

The basic element of silicon is the most common and readily available element on earth. Liquid silicone rubber is easy to be made into complex shapes and chemically inert. Its practicality and excellent properties make it ideal for use in medical devices from the very beginning.

For medical use, silicone must be tested for biocompatibility and meet FDA regulations. There are two types of medical silica gel applications: time-limited and time-free. Usually limited for short - term migration, not limited for long - term migration. The liquid silicone rubber in this paper belongs to the medical grade.

The biocompatibility and low sensitivity of liquid silica minimize the risk of anaphylaxis during use. And because of their hygiene, bacteria and fungi can hardly grow and spread. These properties make it an ideal material for both short - and long-term implants.

Liquid silicone rubber also has exceptional permanent compression and deformation properties and can be made of different wall thicknesses in the same part. Together with the durability and plasticity of the material, these characteristics make it a key component of medical devices.

Silicone rubber is flexible, durable, transparent, and can withstand ultraviolet light and tension. Unlike traditional rubber, liquid silicone rubber can withstand extreme temperatures and does not denaturate from -55℃ to 200℃. Because of this property, devices made of silicone rubber can be autoclave.