Silicone rubber is a wonder material that can do almost anything. From medical devices to aerospace components, from kitchenware to electronics, silicone rubber has a wide range of uses in various industries. But before it can become a useful product, silicone rubber needs to undergo a process called curing or crosslinking. This is where platinum catalysts come in. Platinum catalysts are the secret ingredient that make silicone rubber curing faster, easier and better. In this article, we will explore how platinum catalysts work and why they are the best option for silicone rubber curing.
There are different methods of curing silicone rubber, such as peroxide curing, condensation curing and addition curing. Among them, addition curing is the most widely used method because it has many advantages over the other methods, such as:
l No by-products that can affect the properties or appearance of the cured rubber
l Fast curing rate at room temperature or elevated temperature
l Adjustable curing time and pot life by changing the catalyst concentration or adding inhibitors
l Good compatibility with various fillers and additives
l Low shrinkage of the cured rubber
The most common method of curing silicone rubber is called addition curing or platinum-catalyzed hydrosilylation. This means that a platinum complex, which is the main ingredient of the catalyst, helps to join two different types of silicone molecules together. One type of silicone molecule has silicon-vinyl groups (Si-Vi), while the other type has silicon-hydrogen groups (Si-H). These groups are like hooks that can attach to each other. When the platinum catalyst is added, it activates these hooks and makes them react to form silicon-carbon bonds (Si-C). These bonds link the silicone molecules into a strong and flexible network.
The advantage of platinum catalysts in silicone rubber curing is that they have high activity and high catalytic efficiency. This means that they can initiate and accelerate the hydrosilylation reaction at very low concentrations (usually less than 100 ppm) and without any side reactions that can interfere with the curing process or degrade the quality of the cured rubber. Platinum catalysts can also be tailored to suit different applications by modifying their structure, solubility, stability and activity.
There are many types of platinum catalysts that are used for silicone rubber curing, such as:
l Cis-Dichlorobis (Diethylsulfide) Platinum, which is a water-soluble platinum complex that can be used for aqueous silicone systems
https://www.betelychina.com/products/cis-dichlorobis-diethylsulfide-platinum-ii/
l Karstedt Catalyst, which is a soluble platinum complex with 1, 3-divinyl-1, 1, 3, 3-tetramethyldisiloxane ligands that can be used for heat-cured silicone systems
https://www.betelychina.com/products/platinum-catalyst-cas-no-68478-92-2/
l Trimethyl (Methylcyclopentadienyl) Platinum, which is a photoactive platinum complex that can be activated by UV light
https://www.betelychina.com/products/trimethyl-methylcyclopentadienyl-platinum-iv-99.95/
These are some examples of Betely‘s platinum catalysts that are commonly used for silicone rubber curing. However, there are many other platinum catalysts that we have been developed or are being developed to meet the specific needs of different silicone rubber applications.
Platinum catalysts are the best option for curing silicone rubber. They have many advantages such as fast curing, no by-products, low shrinkage, good compatibility and adjustable properties. They can also work with different silicone rubber systems and conditions. For the best platinum catalysts for your silicone rubber needs, choose Betely，a leading provider of platinum catalysts for silicone rubber curing. We have a variety of platinum catalysts with different features and functions. We can also customize platinum catalysts for your specific needs. Betely‘s platinum catalysts are dependable, stable and affordable. Contact us now and see how our platinum catalysts can improve your silicone rubber products.
https://www.betelychina.com/
