High-temperature silicone plugs are specialized elastomeric components designed to withstand extreme heat while sealing or protecting openings (Par exemple, trous, fils de discussion) in industrial, médical, and food-related applications. Made from high-purity silicone rubber blended with heat-resistant additives, they maintain elasticity and structural integrity even at temperatures far beyond standard silicone products. But what sets them apart from regular silicone plugs, how are they made, and how do you choose the right one?
1. Caractéristiques clés: Why High-Temperature Silicone Plugs Excel
High-temperature silicone plugs outperform standard silicone plugs and other sealing materials (Par exemple, caoutchouc, plastique) in four critical areas. The table below highlights their unique advantages:
| Caractéristiques | High-Temperature Silicone Plugs | Standard Silicone Plugs | Rubber/Plastic Plugs |
| Résistance à la température | Résister 200–350°C (à court terme: 350° C pour 2 heures); no cracking or hardening | Only tolerates up to 150°C; deforms above 180°C | Melts or brittle at 80–120°C |
| Durabilité physique | Résistance à la traction: 3–8MPa; elongation at break: >400%; no permanent deformation after compression | Résistance à la traction: 2–5MPa; élongation: <300%; prone to set after repeated use | Low tensile strength (<2MPA); cracks easily with friction |
| Stabilité chimique | Résiste aux acides (pH 2–12), alcalis, huiles, et solvants; no corrosion or swelling | Limited resistance to strong acids/alkalis; gonfle dans l'huile | Dissolves or degrades in most chemicals |
| Safety Compliance | Food-grade variants meet FDA/GB standards; medical-grade options are biocompatible (no tissue irritation) | Rarely food/medical certified; may contain harmful additives | Often non-toxic but not suitable for food/medical contact |
2. Matériels & Processus de fabrication: Building Heat Resistance
The performance of high-temperature silicone plugs starts with material selection and strict production control. Below is a linear breakdown of the key steps:
Étape 1: Material Blending (La base de la résistance à la chaleur)
- Base Silicone: Utiliser fumed silica gel (pureté élevée, low impurity content) as the base—this boosts density and heat resistance compared to precipitated silica.
- Additive Integration: Mix in specialized additives:
- Heat stabilizers (Par exemple, oxyde de fer) to prevent thermal oxidation at 300°C+.
- Antioxydants to extend aging resistance (durée de vie: 5+ years in high-heat environments).
- For food/medical grades: Add non-toxic plasticizers (no phthalates) to maintain flexibility.
Étape 2: Moulage (Shaping for Precision)
Choose a molding method based on the plug’s shape and volume:
- Moulage par compression: Ideal for high-volume standard shapes (Par exemple, blind hole plugs). Heat silicone compound in a mold (160–180 ° C) under pressure (10–20MPa) to form the plug.
- Extrusion Molding: Utilisé pour longtemps, cylindrical plugs (Par exemple, through-hole types). Push silicone through a die, then cut to length after cooling.
Étape 3: Vulcanization (Locking in Performance)
- Primary Vulcanization: Cure the molded plug in an oven (180–200 ° C) for 5–10 minutes to set the basic shape.
- Secondary Vulcanization: Post-cure at 200–220°C for 2–4 hours to remove volatile by-products. This step critical—without it, the plug may lose heat resistance over time.
Étape 4: Tests de qualité
- Vérifier résistance à la température: Expose samples to 350°C for 2 heures; ensure no deformation or hardness change.
- Vérifier précision dimensionnelle: Use calipers to confirm diameter (±0.1mm tolerance for precision plugs).
- For food/medical grades: Conduct toxicity tests (no heavy metals, pas de COV).
3. Applications par industrie: Where Heat Resistance Matters
High-temperature silicone plugs solve unique problems across sectors. Here’s how they’re used in key industries:
| Industrie | Cas d'utilisation typiques | Recommended Plug Type | Avantages clés |
| Fabrication industrielle | – Protecting screw holes/process holes during high-temperature spraying (250° C +) or electroplating.- Sealing communication cabinet through-holes to prevent dust/chemical ingress. | Countersunk thread type (for threaded holes); large-diameter plugs (25–50mm for big process holes) | Resists paint/chemicals; réutilisable (jusqu'à 50 fois) |
| Dispositifs médicaux | – Sealing medicine bottle necks (prevents drug contamination).- Protecting medical instrument ports during autoclave sterilization (134° C, haute pression). | Small-diameter blind hole plugs (3–10 mm); medical-grade silicone | Biocompatible; withstands repeated sterilization |
| Transformation des aliments | – Sealing food can lids (maintains freshness).- Covering baking mold holes (prevents batter leakage during oven heating, 220° C). | Food-grade transparent plugs; heat-resistant up to 250°C | Non toxique; facile à nettoyer (lave-vaisselle) |
| Recherche scientifique | – Sealing laboratory flasks/test tubes during high-temperature experiments (Par exemple, distillation at 200°C).- Protecting sensor ports in environmental chambers (cycle de température: -40° C à 300 ° C). | Heat-resistant through-hole plugs; flexible variants (for irregular openings) | Withstands extreme temperature swings; ensures airtight seals |
4. Spécification & Shape Guide: Choose the Right Fit
Selecting the wrong size or shape leads to leaks or damage. Use this table to match plugs to your needs:
| Specification/ Shape | Détails clés | Idéal pour |
| Diamètre (Tailles communes) | – Petit: 3–10 mm (medical bottles, tubes à essai)- Moyen: 11–20 mm (industrial process holes)- Grand: 21–50 mm (automotive/communication cabinets) | Choose based on the hole’s inner diameter (add 0.5–1mm for a tight seal) |
| Shape Types | – Through-Hole Type: Hollow center; fits holes that need to be penetrated (Par exemple, sensor wires).- Blind Hole Type: Solid bottom; seals one-end closed holes (Par exemple, medicine bottle necks).- Countersunk Thread Type: Has a recessed top; fits countersunk threaded holes (Par exemple, machine). | Through-hole: Wire/cable pass-throughsBlind hole: Full sealing needsCountersunk: Threaded hole protection |
5. Yigu Technology’s Perspective on High-Temperature Silicone Plugs
À la technologie Yigu, we see high-temperature silicone plugs as “heat-resistant guardians” for critical components. Pour les clients industriels, notre countersunk thread plugs reduce rework rates by 60% during high-temperature spraying—they stay in place even at 300°C and leave no residue. For medical partners, notre FDA-certified blind hole plugs undergo 100+ autoclave cycles without losing flexibility, ensuring drug safety.
Regarder vers l'avenir, we’ll focus on two innovations: 1) Développement ultra-high-temperature plugs (jusqu'à 400 ° C) for aerospace applications, et 2) Creating custom shapes (Par exemple, irregular holes) with 3D printing technology to reduce lead time by 30%. Our goal is to make high-temperature silicone plugs more adaptable to extreme and niche scenarios.
FAQ
- How to clean and reuse high-temperature silicone plugs?
For industrial plugs: Wipe with a solvent (Par exemple, alcool isopropylique) to remove paint/chemicals; avoid sharp tools that scratch the surface. For food/medical plugs: Wash with warm soapy water or autoclave (134° C). Most plugs can be reused 30–50 times if no cracks or deformation occur.
- Les bouchons en silicone haute température peuvent-ils être utilisés dans des environnements à basse température?
Oui, ils conservent leur flexibilité -60°C à 350°C. Cela les rend idéaux pour les applications avec des variations de température (Par exemple, équipement industriel extérieur qui fait face aux nuits froides et aux journées chaudes).
- Quelle est la différence entre les bouchons en silicone haute température de qualité alimentaire et de qualité industrielle?
Les bouchons de qualité alimentaire utilisent des additifs non toxiques (pas de métaux lourds/COV) et répond aux normes de sécurité alimentaire FDA/GB; ils sont sans danger pour le contact direct avec les aliments. Industrial-grade plugs may contain cost-effective additives (Par exemple, carbon black for UV resistance) that are not food-safe—never use them in food processing.