Why use a silicone based thermal conductor?
Silicones as a chemical family are extremely versatile substances and are considered to be very environmentally friendly; most silicone products are solvent free, non-volatile and pose no hazard to the ecosystem. Cured silicone rubbers are not biodegradable or affected by weathering, ozone and exposure to UV. They are resistant to extreme changes in temperature (typically –60°C to +250°C) and provide protection against moisture, chemical attack, shocks and vibration. Of prime importance to the electronics engineer are their electrical insulating properties, which typically have a volume resistivity in excess of 1015Ω·cm. Cured silicone elastomers can be formulated to produce a wide range of products, including micro thin coatings, flexible adhesive sealants, soft cured gels and rubbers of varying hardness. Addition cure rubbers using platinum catalysts are completely neutral, non-corrosive materials which can be designed to cure at room temperature or accelerated by heating at moderate
