What is Better, Silicone or Plastic?

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Kelly.C

Marketing Manager--US & EU

Confused between using silicone or plastic for your sealing application? Selecting materials without knowing their clear differences can cause unexpected issues later.

Silicone is superior for extreme temperature resistance, flexibility, chemical stability, food safety, and longevity, while plastic is cost-effective, rigid, lighter, and suitable for mass-produced simple components.

Silicone Rubber vs Plastic
Silicone Rubber vs Plastic

Clearly understanding their differences helps you choose the best material. Let’s dive deeper into each aspect to help your decision-making.

What are the Advantages of Silicone Compared to Plastic?

Struggling with plastic components failing in extreme conditions? Clearly understanding silicone’s advantages can save you from repeated issues.

Silicone has superior temperature resistance1 (-60°C to 230°C), excellent UV and ozone stability, chemical resistance, flexibility, and food-grade safety, clearly outperforming most plastics in harsh environments.

Clearly Defined Advantages of Silicone

Here’s why silicone is often the preferred choice for demanding applications:

PropertySilicone ✅Plastic ❌
Temperature StabilityExcellent (-60°C to 230°C)Limited temperature range
Chemical ResistanceGoodModerate to low
Abrasion ResistanceModerateGood (some plastics)
FlexibilityHigh flexibilityRigid, less flexible
LongevityExcellent durabilityShorter lifespan

Is Silicone More Food Safe than Plastic?

Worried about food safety2 with plastic? Clearly understanding silicone’s food safety benefits resolves such concerns.

Silicone is typically more food-safe than plastic, as it is widely FDA-approved, stable at high temperatures, and doesn't leach harmful substances, unlike many plastics under heat exposure.

Food Safety Comparison

Food Safety PropertySilicone ✅Plastic ❌
FDA ApprovalWidely FDA-approvedLimited FDA-approved types
Heat StabilityExcellent, safe when heatedPotential chemical leaching
Taste & OdorNeutral, doesn’t retain odorsMay retain odors and flavors

Why Don't We Use Silicone Instead of Plastic?

Wondering why silicone hasn't completely replaced plastic? Clearly knowing silicone’s limitations explains this choice.

Silicone is not universally used instead of plastic because it's costlier, heavier, and less rigid. Plastics offer low-cost, lightweight, and structural rigidity ideal for mass-produced and disposable applications.

Silicone Limitations

Clearly understanding silicone’s limitations helps you know when plastic is a better option:

LimitationSilicone ❌Plastic ✅
CostHigher costEconomical
Structural StrengthFlexible, lower rigidityExcellent rigidity
High Volume ProductionHigher production costsCost-effective mass production
Disposable ProductsNot suitable (expensive)Ideal, low cost

Where Not to Use Silicone?

Tired of silicone failing unexpectedly? Clearly understanding unsuitable applications prevents costly mistakes.

Avoid silicone in structural applications requiring rigidity, cost-sensitive high-volume production, fuel or oil exposure, and situations demanding high abrasion resistance or tear strength.

Clearly Unsuitable Applications for Silicone ✅

Knowing when to avoid silicone is as important as knowing when to use it:

ApplicationReason to Avoid SiliconeBetter Alternatives
Fuel/Oil ExposurePoor oil resistanceNBR, Viton (FKM)
High-Abrasion AreasEasily damaged by abrasionNatural Rubber, Neoprene
Structural ComponentsToo flexible, lacks rigidityPlastic, Metal
Disposable ProductsToo costlyPlastic (economical)

Clearly matching material to application prevents costly downtime and replacements.

Which Lasts Longer, Silicone or Plastic?

Frustrated by frequently replacing plastic parts? Clearly understanding durability differences3 helps reduce downtime.

Silicone lasts longer than plastic due to its superior UV resistance, chemical stability, temperature durability, and overall material stability, often exceeding 10+ years under normal use.

Durability Comparison

Durability FactorSilicone ✅Plastic ❌
UV ResistanceExcellentModerate to poor
Chemical StabilityVery goodModerate to low
LifespanOften exceeds 10+ yearsShorter lifespan
Environmental StabilityExcellentModerate

Which is Cheaper, Silicone or Plastic?

Concerned about budget constraints? Clearly knowing the cost difference helps avoid overspending.

Plastic is significantly cheaper than silicone, making it ideal for high-volume or disposable applications where cost control is critical. Silicone offers higher quality but at increased cost.

Cost Analysis ✅

Cost FactorsSilicone ❌Plastic ✅
Material CostHigherEconomical
Production CostMore expensiveLow-cost mass production
Volume SuitabilityMedium-small batchesHigh-volume, cost-effective

For cost-sensitive applications, my customers often prefer plastics, while silicone suits demanding, specialized uses.

Conclusion

Silicone clearly excels in temperature resistance, durability, flexibility, and food safety, while plastic dominates in cost-effectiveness, rigidity, and mass production simplicity.

🚀 Need Help Choosing Silicone or Plastic?
Contact Julong Rubber or Request your custom quote today!



  1. Understanding temperature resistance can help you choose the right materials for extreme conditions, ensuring durability and performance. 

  2. Exploring food safety standards can help you make informed choices about materials used in food applications, ensuring health and safety. 

  3. Learning about durability differences can guide you in selecting materials that last longer and perform better in various applications. 

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