Silicone wire and cable is an excellent choice for high temperature, high voltage, low corona, and applications requiring extremely flexible wire or cable. Silicone is used in applications for every industry including medical applications with implantable and medical grade silicone wire and cable. Silicone wire also find uses in aerospace, military and space applications. While silicone rubber has been known in the past as a moderate “out-gassing” material, Calmont now has a space rated silicone rubber material that will meet the current NASA out-gassing requirements without post baking.

Flexibility

One of the obvious benefits for using silicone for wire and cable is the flexibility. The combination of Silicone Rubber and the ultra and fine wire stranding of copper and copper alloys yields the most flexible wire construction, silicone wire can be as limp as a piece of string. This type of wire is ideal with applications where routing a wire through a tight space is required such as, box builds, equipment, or handheld devices and has excellent weather-ability.

Abrasion Resistance

The downside to silicone is it’s abrasion resistance which is fair. Depending on the application this may have no impact, best uses are static installations or when the wire or cable is not subject to contact with sharp objects. Silicone formulations are available to increase abrasion resistance.

Temperature

The temperature range for standard silicone is -60°C to 200°C. In most applications, silicone may be heated from 180 to 200°C for a year. Silicone is also very flexible at extreme low temperatures (stiffening temperature of approximately -115°C). The operating temperature range of a silicone in any application is dependent on many variables, including but not limited to: temperature, time of exposure, type of atmosphere, exposure of the material’s surface to the atmosphere, and mechanical stress. In addition, a material’s physical properties will vary at both the high and low end of the operating temperature range. Silicone formula is available for temperatures of 350°C with the use of a nickel conductor.

Chemical Resistance

Silicone wire has very good chemical resistance properties. Silicone cables are commonly used in applications where the cable can be in contact with chemicals
Automotive, industrial and automation industries are a common place for silicone wire and cable.

High Voltage

Silicone Rubber has excellent High-Voltage ratings and is often used for High-Voltage, flexible wires. Co-extruded wire, multi-layered silicone cables with a semi-conductive layer is also available for low corona extinction voltage requirements. Silicone rubber insulated wires and cables are the most flexible constructions offered by Calmont.

SiliFlex

SiliFlex is distinguished by its extreme limpness and flexibility. It is the most limber of all the high flex products offered by Calmont. Silicone rubber insulation compounds are inherently soft and pliable and resist the plastic flow that characterizes many insulation systems. Silicone compounds can be tailored to meet a variety of demands such as extreme high and low temperature requirements, flame resistance, flexibility, radiation resistance, strength and purity. SilifFlex is used extensively for robotic, aerospace and medical applications.