Platinum silicone: what it is and when it is used in industrial gaskets
Platinum-cured silicone is a type of silicone vulcanised using a platinum-catalysed curing system, also known as addition curing.
This curing system produces materials with high purity, good chemical stability and very low by-product generation during vulcanisation.
For this reason, platinum-cured silicones are often used in industrial applications that require materials with good thermal stability, reliable chemical behaviour and high long-term material stability.
In industrial gaskets, this type of silicone is used particularly when the application calls for technically stable materials or has specific sanitary requirements.
What platinum-cured silicone means
Silicones can be vulcanised using different chemical systems. The two most common curing systems in industrial applications are:
- peroxide curing
- platinum curing (addition curing)
With platinum curing, the chemical reaction is driven by a platinum-based catalyst that crosslinks the polymer without generating significant amounts of volatile by-products.
This produces a final material with characteristics such as:
- higher material purity
- fewer residual compounds
- greater chemical stability
- good performance in sensitive applications
For this reason, platinum-cured silicone is often used in applications where the material must maintain a high level of stability and consistency over time.
Differences between platinum-cured and peroxide-cured silicone
Peroxide curing is still very common in general industrial applications and is suitable for many technical gaskets.
However, there are some differences between the two vulcanisation systems.
Peroxide-cured silicone
- more economical curing process
- by-products generated during curing
- suitable for many standard industrial applications
Platinum-cured silicone
- lower by-product generation
- higher purity of the final material
- greater long-term chemical stability
- suitable for applications with more demanding requirements
The choice between the two systems always depends on factors such as the end application, the operating conditions or the requirements of the industrial sector.
Properties of platinum-cured silicone gaskets
Gaskets made from platinum-cured silicone offer a combination of properties that make them suitable for demanding technical applications.
The most common properties include:
- good thermal stability
- excellent elasticity and recovery
- good resistance to ageing
- high resistance to ozone and UV radiation
- good chemical stability against various agents
Depending on the specific formulation of the material, platinum-cured silicones can normally operate within approximate temperature ranges of:
–50 °C to +200 °C in continuous service
and in some cases withstand higher temperature peaks for short periods.
Common applications of platinum-cured silicone
Because of its purity and stability, platinum-cured silicone is often used in industrial sectors where the behaviour of the material is particularly important.
Common examples include:
- food processing equipment
- pharmaceutical facilities
- biotechnology production systems
- medical or laboratory equipment
- applications requiring very stable materials
- systems exposed to high temperatures
In these applications, gaskets must ensure sealing, material stability and long-term reliability.
Manufacturing platinum-cured silicone gaskets
Platinum-cured silicone can be used to manufacture different types of sealing components, depending on the design of the application.
The most common include:
- flat gaskets cut from sheet
- extruded silicone profiles
- silicone tubes or cords
- special custom-made gaskets
Selecting the right material depends on factors such as:
- operating temperature
- fluid in contact
- system pressure
- regulatory or sanitary requirements
- part geometry
For this reason, in many industrial applications the material and type of gasket are usually defined according to the actual operating conditions.
If you need platinum-cured silicone gaskets or other technical elastomers, you can also explore our solutions in O-rings or our industrial gaskets section.
