Silicone Rubber Sheet UK: Properties, Grades & Applications — 2026 Buyer's Guide
Silicone rubber is one of the most versatile engineering materials available in the UK — heat-resistant, food-safe, chemically stable, and flexible across a temperature range that no organic rubber can match. From food processing gaskets to oven door seals, medical device components to laboratory matting, silicone rubber sheet is the specification material of choice across dozens of critical industries.
This guide covers everything you need to know about silicone rubber sheet in the UK: grades, properties, temperature ratings, comparison to other rubbers, and how to specify the right product for your application.
What Is Silicone Rubber?
Silicone rubber (polydimethylsiloxane, or PDMSE) is a synthetic elastomer made from silicon (a naturally occurring element), oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen. Unlike organic rubbers (natural rubber, SBR, EPDM), silicone has an inorganic silicon-oxygen backbone, which gives it exceptional properties:
- Temperature resistance — maintains flexibility from -60°C to +230°C (or higher for speciality grades)
- UV and ozone resistance — doesn't degrade outdoors unlike organic rubbers
- Chemical inertness — resistant to many chemicals, oils, and solvents
- Food safe — food-grade silicone is FDA 21 CFR and EU 10/2011 compliant
- Non-toxic — does not leach harmful chemicals
- Electrical insulation — good dielectric properties
Silicone Rubber Sheet Grades Available in the UK
Standard Grade Silicone Sheet
General-purpose silicone with good temperature range (-60°C to +200°C) and mechanical properties. Suitable for sealing, gasketing, and vibration isolation where food contact or medical compliance isn't required. Available in red, blue, white, grey, and black.
Food-Grade Silicone Sheet
Manufactured without harmful plasticisers and tested to FDA 21 CFR 177.2600 and EU Food Contact Regulation 10/2011. Required for any application where rubber contacts food, beverages, or potable water. Typically supplied in white, translucent, or red. Essential for food processing, bakery, dairy, and beverage industry applications.
High-Temperature Silicone Sheet
Formulated for continuous service up to +250°C and short-term peaks to +300°C. Uses speciality peroxide-cured silicone compounds. Required for: industrial ovens, autoclaves, high-temperature pipework flanges, and engine bay applications. Do not confuse with standard grade — the temperature difference is critical in high-heat applications.
Platinum-Cured Silicone Sheet
The highest purity grade, cured with platinum catalyst rather than peroxide. Lowest extractables profile — required for pharmaceutical manufacturing, medical device applications, and the most stringent food contact uses. More expensive than peroxide-cured but offers superior purity certification.
Silicone Sponge / Foam Sheet
Cellular structure (open or closed cell) for compressible sealing applications. Lower density than solid silicone; seals under lower closure force. Ideal for: oven door seals, medical device cushioning, HVAC duct joints, and vibration isolation where a compressible gasket is required. Available in open-cell (more compressible) and closed-cell (better for fluid sealing) forms.
Silicone Rubber Sheet Properties
| Property | Standard Silicone | High-Temp Silicone | Food-Grade Silicone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temperature Range | -60°C to +200°C | -60°C to +250°C | -60°C to +200°C |
| Hardness (Shore A) | 30–80 | 40–70 | 30–70 |
| Colour | Red, blue, grey, black, white | Red, high-temp red | White, translucent, red |
| Food Compliance | No | Application-specific | FDA/EU 10/2011 |
| UV Resistance | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Oil Resistance | Poor–Fair | Poor–Fair | Poor–Fair |
Silicone vs Other Rubber Sheets: When to Choose Silicone
Choose silicone rubber sheet when you need:
- Temperature above +100°C — organic rubbers (SBR, EPDM, neoprene) begin degrading; silicone remains stable
- Temperature below -30°C — silicone remains flexible where other rubbers become brittle
- Food or pharmaceutical contact — silicone is the standard material for food-safe rubber components
- Long-term outdoor exposure — silicone matches or exceeds EPDM for UV/ozone resistance
- Electrical insulation at high temperature — silicone maintains dielectric properties at temperatures where other rubbers fail
Choose alternatives when you need:
- Oil/fuel resistance — use nitrile (NBR) rubber, which far outperforms silicone in hydrocarbon resistance
- High mechanical strength / abrasion resistance — natural rubber or SBR; silicone has relatively poor tear resistance
- Cost efficiency for standard applications — silicone is significantly more expensive than SBR, EPDM, or neoprene
Common UK Applications for Silicone Rubber Sheet
Food Processing & Bakery
Food-grade silicone gaskets for hygienic fittings, conveyor belt scrapers, oven door and chute seals, baking mat material, pipeline joint seals in product-contact areas. Silicone is NSF/FDA compliant and can be steam-cleaned and autoclaved without degradation.
Pharmaceutical & Medical
Platinum-cured silicone sheet for pharmaceutical machinery gaskets, cleanroom flooring anti-static mats, medical device seals, and autoclave equipment. Platinum cure ensures the lowest extractables for the most demanding purity requirements.
High-Temperature Industrial
Gaskets for flanged pipe connections operating above 150°C, oven door seals, curing press tooling, autoclave seal rings, foundry and glass manufacturing protective matting. High-temperature silicone handles applications that destroy organic rubbers.
HVAC and Building Services
Ductwork flexible connections, silicone expansion joints, plant room vibration isolation pads, fire-resistant door seals (intumescent silicone for fire-rated doors). Silicone's broad temperature range suits plant room environments from cold stores to boiler rooms.
Laboratory and Scientific
Laboratory bench matting (silicone-topped work surface protectors), autoclave gaskets, glassware support pads, fume hood work surfaces. Silicone's chemical inertness and cleanability suit laboratory environments.
Standard Sizes & Thicknesses Available in the UK
UK silicone rubber sheet suppliers typically stock:
- Thicknesses: 1mm, 1.5mm, 2mm, 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 15mm, 20mm, 25mm
- Sheet sizes: 1m × 1m, 1.2m × 1m, 1.4m × 10m (roll), custom cut-to-size
- Roll widths: 0.5m, 1m, 1.2m, 1.4m (standard roll widths for sheeting material)
Cut-to-size silicone sheet is available from most UK specialist rubber sheet suppliers — essential for gasket cutting and non-standard dimensions.
Where to Buy Silicone Rubber Sheet in the UK
Silicone rubber sheet is available from specialist UK rubber sheet suppliers. Browse our Rubber Sheet collection for SBR, EPDM, nitrile, and neoprene options. For food-grade and medical-grade silicone, contact specialist industrial rubber suppliers who can provide full material data sheets and compliance documentation.
For other rubber sheeting options, see:
- Rubber Sheeting UK — full range of compounds and thicknesses
- Rubber Sheet — cut-to-size SBR, EPDM, neoprene, nitrile
Frequently Asked Questions: Silicone Rubber Sheet UK
Is silicone rubber sheet food safe in the UK?
Food-grade silicone rubber sheet manufactured to FDA 21 CFR 177.2600 and EU Food Contact Regulation 10/2011 is food safe. Always request compliance documentation — not all silicone rubber is food-grade. Standard or industrial-grade silicone should not be used in direct food contact applications without confirmed food-contact approval.
What colour is silicone rubber sheet?
Silicone sheet is available in red (most common standard grade), white (most common food-grade), translucent/clear, blue, grey, and black. Colour is purely cosmetic — it doesn't indicate food safety or grade. Always check the specification and compliance documents, not the colour alone.
Can silicone rubber sheet be used in an autoclave?
Yes — silicone rubber is autoclave-compatible. It withstands repeated sterilisation cycles at 134°C steam. Platinum-cured silicone is preferred for medical and pharmaceutical autoclave applications due to its lower extractables profile. Standard peroxide-cured silicone is also autoclave resistant but may have slightly higher initial extractables.
How does silicone rubber compare to EPDM for outdoor gaskets in the UK?
Both silicone and EPDM offer excellent UV and ozone resistance for outdoor UK applications. EPDM is less expensive and has better moisture resistance for constant water immersion (pond liners, flat roof membranes). Silicone is preferred where temperature extremes are expected (near heating plant, in vehicle engine bays) or where FDA compliance is needed. For standard outdoor sealing, EPDM offers better cost efficiency.
What is the maximum temperature silicone rubber can handle?
Standard silicone rubber sheet: continuous service to +200°C, short-term to +230°C. High-temperature silicone: continuous to +250°C, short-term to +300°C. Above 300°C, look at ceramic fibre gaskets or metal gaskets. Silicone can also handle cryogenic temperatures — standard grades remain flexible down to -60°C, speciality grades to -100°C.
Is silicone rubber resistant to oils and fuels?
No — silicone has poor resistance to petroleum-based oils, fuels, and many solvents. It swells significantly in contact with hydrocarbons. For oil and fuel resistant applications, use nitrile (NBR) rubber or fluorosilicone (FVMQ) — a speciality silicone compound with improved oil resistance, albeit at considerably higher cost.
