What kinds of material will cause curing issue when the silicone contact with it

Dec 23, 2024 Leave a message

The following are some materials that may cause silicone to not cure properly (similar to "poisoning") after contact with it:
Sulfur, phosphorus, and nitrogen compounds
Sulfur-containing materials: For example, when vulcanized rubber is stored or in contact with silicone, the sulfur element contained in the vulcanized rubber and its vulcanization system components may migrate into the silicone system. The platinum curing agent commonly used in silicone is very sensitive to sulfur. A trace amount of sulfur can react with the platinum catalyst, causing the catalyst to be poisoned and inactive, which in turn causes the silicone to not cure properly. Some industrial rubber products containing sulfur, sulfur-containing adhesives, etc., will cause such problems if they are too close to or mixed with silicone.
Phosphorus-containing compounds: Some materials such as organophosphorus pesticides and phosphorus-containing flame retardants may interfere with the silicone curing system. In particular, some addition-type silicones rely on specific catalysts to initiate the curing reaction. The phosphorus element may combine with these catalysts to inhibit the normal progress of the curing reaction, causing the silicone to remain in a liquid or paste state and cannot be converted into a solid state, and the expected curing and molding effect cannot be achieved.
Nitrogen-containing compounds: Some nitrogen-containing amine substances, such as some industrial amine curing agents (commonly used for curing other materials such as epoxy resin, but incompatible with silicone system), nitrogen-containing fertilizers, etc., if accidentally mixed into the silicone system, will affect the chemical reaction balance during silicone curing, damage the active ingredients in the silicone (such as the effective catalytic ingredients in the curing agent, etc.), and thus hinder the normal curing of silicone.
Heavy metals and their compounds
Heavy metal elements or salts such as tin, lead, and mercury: For example, some tin compounds are often used as catalysts in some traditional condensation-type silicone curing systems, but if excessive tin compounds are mixed into addition-type silicone, it will disrupt its curing mechanism, because different curing systems interfere with each other, resulting in failure to cure normally. If salts of heavy metals such as lead and mercury (such as lead nitrate, mercuric chloride, etc.) contaminate the silicone system, they will react chemically with the key components in the silicone curing process by virtue of their strong chemical activity, change their chemical properties, make the silicone curing reaction difficult to start or stop midway, and ultimately fail to cure into qualified products.
Certain organic compounds
Ketone-containing compounds: For example, common ketone organic solvents such as acetone and butanone have strong solubility and chemical activity. If such substances are mixed into the silicone during use, on the one hand, the silicone may be diluted and its original composition ratio may be changed; on the other hand, they may chemically react with the curing agent and other components in the silicone, affecting the activity of the curing agent, or interfering with the normal steps of the curing reaction, resulting in the silicone being unable to cure in the normal time and manner, resulting in incomplete curing or even no curing at all.
Aldehyde-containing compounds: Aldehyde-containing substances such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde will also have an adverse effect on the curing of silicone. They may combine with some active functional groups in the silicone or destroy the chemical environment in which the curing agent works, thereby hindering the curing process of the silicone, making it impossible for the silicone to form a stable cross-linked structure and remain in an uncured state.
Strong oxidizing substances
Peroxide, concentrated nitric acid, etc.: Peroxide (such as hydrogen peroxide, etc.) is itself a strong oxidant. When it comes into contact with silicone, it may oxidize some organic components in the silicone and key components in the curing agent, destroying their chemical structure and activity. Concentrated nitric acid is highly oxidizing and corrosive. It will react violently with silicone, not only preventing it from solidifying normally but also even directly decompose and destroy the silicone matrix, causing it to lose its original performance and use value.

Send Inquiry

whatsapp

Phone

E-mail

Inquiry