Why Silicone Beats Rubber for FMCG products
In the world where the choice of materials plays a crucial role in pursuing a more efficient and healthy lifestyle. Silicone and rubber are versatile materials with a wide range of applications, from automotive to healthcare and household products. There is a certain degree of similarity and difference between the two that often leads the people to wonder about their relationship.
Though both silicone and rubber are elastomers with viscoelastic properties, their atomic structures differ, leading to distinct characteristics and performance traits.Currently, silicone products are increasingly capturing market share from rubber goods, and this trend shows no signs of slowing down, particularly in the fast-paced consumer goods market.
What is silicone and rubber?
Silicone, or polydimethylsiloxane, is a outsanding material with a backbone composed of synthetic origin(including silicon and oxygen atoms). This structure gives silicone its unique properties,their chemical inertness, resistance to water and oxidation,and its ability to stay strong in both hot and cold temperatures that make people
Rubber, the elastice subtance obtained from the extract of rubber tree(natural rubber) or derived from petroleum and natural gas (synthetic rubber).Quite silimar like silicone,this material is also elastic, resilient and tough.In fact，these two materials have many significant differences.
The difference between them
Chemical Properties:
Thermal Stability: Silicone’s outstanding thermal stability make it capable of withstanding the temperatures ranging from -100°C to 350°C. In comparison, rubber has a more limited thermal resistance, which is ranging from -50°C to 80°C, make it less suitable for applications involving extreme temperatures. Silicone is also an excellent heat insulator, meaning it does not transfer heat between objects. In kitchen itmes， the best example of the thermal stability of silicone is the baking mat， which is basically made of silicone, not rubber on the market.
Chemical Resistance: Generally, Silicone's inherent chemical inertness means it does not easily react with most chemicals, making it ideal for use in harsh chemical environments. In contrast, rubber can degrade when exposed to certain chemicals, which limits its applicability in these conditions.
Aging Resistance: Silicone is highly resistant to aging and maintains its properties over time, making it suitable for long-term use. On the other hand, rubber can break down when exposed to UV light and oxygen, leading to a loss of elasticity and strength.
Weather Resistance: Silicone's durability against weathering makes it remain flexible and effective after years of exposure to sunlight, rain, and temperature extremes. While rubber can also endure various weather conditions, it may necessitate protective coatings to prevent a cracking and degradation.
Biocompatibility: Silicone is non-toxic and biocompatible, which is the main reason that become a common choice for medical applications and food contact products. In contrast, the biocompatibility of rubber can vary depending on its type, for example, natural rubber is not hold up well against oil, grease or fat, and it may not be suitable for all medical or food-related applications.
Water Resistance: There is no doubt that both silicone and rubber are water-resistant; however, silicone's non-porous nature makes it less likely to absorb water, which is advantageous for waterproof applications.
Toxicity: Silicone is generally considered non-toxic, while some types of rubber may contain harmful substances, such as heavy metals or other toxic chemicals, that can leach out over time.
Physical Properties:
Durability: Silicone exhibits superior durability due to its resistance to environmental factors and its extended lifespan. This can explains why silicone is used in the automotive and aerospace industries. In contrast, rubber's durability may be compromised by exposure to heat, chemicals, and ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
Elasticity: Both materials exhibit elasticity; however, silicone's elasticity tends to remain more consistent across a broader range of temperatures. In contrast, rubber's elasticity can be significantly influenced by temperature fluctuations.
Resilience: Silicone is particularly notable for its ability to return to its original shape after being stretched or compressed. While rubber also exhibits resilience, it may undergo permanent deformation when exposed to excessive heat or stress.
Tensile Strength: Silicone typically exhibits lower tensile strength than rubber, which can be advantageous in applications that require flexibility. In contrast, rubber's higher tensile strength makes it more suitable for applications that demand greater rigidity and resistance to tearing.
Silicone Gaining Market Share in FMCG
Silicone and rubber are both elastomers with a wide range of applications; however, they differ significantly in their chemical and physical properties,which significantly influence the competitiveness and market share of rubber and silicone in the FMCG market. Silicone's high temperature resistance, chemical resistance, aging resistance, biocompatibility, waterproofness, and environmentally friendly properties have helped it to establish an image of high quality and safety in the minds of consumers.
As consumers become more aware of health and environmental protection, these characteristics have become key factors for silicone's dominance in the market, thus driving its widespread use and market share growth in the FMCG sector. In contrast, rubber, although excellent in terms of elasticity and tensile strength, may not be as good as silicone in terms of certain characteristics, which has led to the gradual replacement of rubber in specific FMCG applications.
Take a brift look
Baby Care Products:
According to market research, the global market for silicone baby products was valued at approximately $1 billion in 2019 and is expected to reach around $2 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of more than 8%. This growth trend indicates that silicone products are increasingly replacing rubber products in the baby care market due to their safety and durability.
Kitchenware:
The market size for silicone kitchenware is estimated to be around USD 2.5 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow to USD 3.5 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of around 5.6%. The growth of silicone kitchenware is attributed to the increasing consumer demand for healthy and environmentally friendly products, as well as the outstanding performance of silicone materials in terms of heat and cold resistance.
Personal Care Products:
The application of silicone in personal care products are also growing rapidly. For example, sales of silicone facial cleansing brushes have increased by 300% over the past five years, thanks to consumer recognition of the hypoallergenic and easy-to-clean properties of silicone materials.
