MATERIALS
Materials for every use case and condition
Materials for every use case and condition
Seal profile materials are designed and selected according to their intended use and operating conditions. V.A.V. Group makes its own silicone raw material mix for seal profiles, which allows us to have full control over the various properties of the profile, whether it is hardness, colour, or other special features.
The main materials used for profiles are silicone rubber, TPV (thermoplastic vulcanizate), and TPE (thermoplastic elastomer). These materials all have their own functional properties, with some overlap in potential use cases. Silicone rubber has the widest operating temperature range, and TPE and TPV profiles have excellent chemical resistance and both are well-suited for multi-component seals. Fire X is our self-extinguishing silicone profile that fits the European standards for rolling stock, the maritime industry, and others, and can also be used for doors and windows in other transport industries.
V.A.V. GROUP FINDS SOLUTIONS TO
VARIOUS PROFILE NEEDS
In our collaboration with Honkarakenne, we had to consider many factors to provide the best possible profiles for log house construction. Read more about our collaboration.
SILICONE RUBBER
Silicone rubber is an excellent material for extreme temperatures and conditions.
Silicone rubber is an excellent material for demanding conditions. We can adapt its properties to fit various operating environments; the properties of silicone rubber include resistance to steam, pressure, moisture, chemicals and oils, UV and ozone, and electrical insulation. Silicone rubber has the best operating temperature range which makes it a perfect choice for transportation industries.
Silicone rubber is commonly used for insulation in many industries. We also manufacture non-stretch silicone profiles, foam silicone, and self-adhesive seals, all of which have their own special advantages.
TPE/TPV
TPE/TPV profiles cope well with different temperatures and are well-suited for multi-component seals.
V.A.V. Group offers customized profiles made from TPE and TPV, which show advantages typical of both rubbery and plastic materials.
Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) are also known as thermoplastic rubbers. They are a class of copolymers or a physical mix of polymers – usually a plastic and a rubber – which consist of materials with both thermoplastic and elastomeric properties. TPE/TPV profiles cope well with different temperatures and are well-suited for multi-component seals and they have excellent chemical resistances. TPE can also be manufactured in various colours and in a combination of soft and hard grades.
TPE and TPV profiles are useful in many industries. We also manufacture non-stretch TPE profiles, and self-adhesive seals, both of which have their own special advantages.
FIRE X
Fire X silicone or TPV is self-extinguishing and slows down the spread of fire in extreme conditions.
Fire X profiles have been developed for fire-rated applications such as fire doors, trains, and ships. They are used in conditions that require a high thermal resistance (< +270 °C) and where the seal must slow down the spread of fire in extreme conditions.
The basic material used in Fire X is silicone or TPV with fire-retardant agents added to them. Its combustion gases are non-toxic.
Material table
Silicone Profiles | TPE/TPV Profiles | Fire X | |
Material | |||
| Silicone | TPE/TPV | Self-extinguishing silicone | |
| Bio-TPE | TPV | ||
Hardness | |||
| Shore A 10-80 | 40 Shore A - 45 Shore D | Shore A 10-80 | |
Color | |||
| Basic colors | Basic colors | Basic colors | |
| RAL chart | RAL chart | Limited RAL | |
| Metallic colors | Metallic colors | ||
Operating temperature | |||
| -100 - +300 °C | -40 - +120 °C | < +270 °C | |
Diameter | |||
| 0-70 mm | 0-55 mm | 0-70 mm (Silicone) | |
| 0-55 mm (TPE/TPV) | |||
Certificates | |||
| EN45545-2:2020 requirements R22 & R23 for HL3 | |||
| IMO FTPC Part 2 & 5 (Silicone) | |||
| UL 94 V Classification V0 | |||
Special properties | |||
| Heat-resistant silicone: up to +300 °C during short-term stress (7 days) | High thermal resistance | ||
| Cold-resistant silicone: up to -100 °C | Fire-retardant | ||
| Fluorosilicone: resistant to various oils, solvents and other chemicals during sustained contact | |||
| Electrically conductive silicone: ESD and EMI applications and low voltage switch and sensor applications | |||
| Platinum vulcanized silicone | |||
Optional properties | |||
| Stretch prevention cord | Stretch prevention cord | Stretch prevention cord | |
| Foaming | Foaming | ||
| 1-component or 2-component | 1-component or 2-component | ||
| Fire-retardant | |||
| FDA-compliant food grade silicone | |||
| Chemical durability |
News
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DON'T HESITATE TO ASK US
New projects and environments bring new challenges and requirements, from environmental hazards to special soundproofing. Always do your research, but don’t hesitate to ask us for help. Our flexibility gives us the advantage to innovate and experiment with various further processing methods.
