Silicone Grease
Silicone grease is silicone oil based thickened with a lithium soap. Silicone Paste is silicone oil based with inert fillers. This type of grease and paste are waterproof and offers great fluidity and performances over a wide temperature range.
Chemical Structure
Silicone greases are especially appropriate when the lubricating properties need to be increased to meet the post demanding specifications. For example, at low-pressure levels, PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) or non-reactive methyl phenyl oils are generally combined with lithium soaps creating the efficiency of silicone greases. These specifically designed silicone greases provide truly effective lubrication in both dynamic and static conditions, retaining their viscosity across a wide range of temperatures.
Silicone greases are often considered to be the same as silicone pastes. Whereas silicone greases are thickened with a lithium soap, silicone pastes are made by dispersing silica in PDMS (Polydimethylsiloxane) oils with the use of thickening agents. Different amounts of silica are added to the compound to increase its viscosity to the required level. The chemical structure and physical attributes of silicone pastes make it particularly useful for the treatment of non-horizontal surfaces because of its adherent and non-drip characteristics. These pastes can also be used for sealing, potting, electrical insulation coating, protective coating, mold release and even as lubrication for low friction applications.
Silicone Greases properties
Most greases or lubricants are made from petroleum oils or, for particular properties, synthetic oils. Each have different advantages and drawbacks, and are usually dedicated to a specific application field.
With the large array of available products, engineers and sourcing managers face major challenges in choosing the right type of oil-based industrial grease and the required additives. This is where silicone grease simplifies their choice as they can withstand an incredibly wide range of temperatures, from -60°C to 300°C under a wide variation of pressure and load conditions. Silicone grease also offers water-washout resistance, secure electrical connections and contains no harmful or flammable petrochemicals, enabling them to be used widely and safely.
Silicones Pastes properties
Silicone Paste, with its non-curing and pasty consistency, is largely unnaffected by temperature changes, and therefore efficient in very diffeent environments. Also, because it is water resistant and repellent (as well as resistant to oxidation), its protective layer offers long-term protection against all sorts of atmospheric pressure and aggressions.
Furthermore silicone paste is odorless, features a low levels of toxicity, is radiation resistant (up to 106 rad.) and inert when in contact with numerous chemicals and largely resistant to microorganisms. Its high level of adhesion to numerous surfaces and its good lubricating properties in plastic/plastic or plastic/metal pairings make it ideal for moveable parts. Otherwise, its good release properties are useful in numerous elastomer and plastic applications.
For electrical and electronic applications, silicone paste provides good electrical insulation, high dielectric strength and permittivity, therefore generating a low level of loss factor. Last but not least, its excellent shelf life allows it to retain its reliable functional properties for up to 12 months before application and maintain its protective properties for several years, once installed.
Silicone grease is silicone oil based thickened with a lithium soap. Silicone Paste is silicone oil based with inert fillers. This type of grease and paste are waterproof and offers great fluidity and performances over a wide temperature range. Chemical Structure Silicone greases are especially appropriate when the lubricating properties need to be increased to…