When the job involves extreme heat, freezing cold, or food and medical contact, silicone is the rubber washer material that keeps performing where others fail. It stays soft and flexible across the widest temperature range we stock.
Silicone at a glance
- Temperature range: about -80°F to 450°F — the widest of any common washer rubber
- Resists: heat, cold, UV, ozone, weather and many chemicals
- Food & medical safe: commonly FDA-grade, odorless and tasteless
- Weak against: abrasion, tearing, fuels and many oils
Where silicone shines
Silicone is the go-to for cookware and food equipment, medical devices, lighting and electrical enclosures that run hot, and outdoor gear exposed to sun and temperature swings. Its flexibility in the cold also makes it a favorite for refrigeration and freezer applications.
When to choose something else
Silicone tears more easily than other rubbers, so skip it for high-abrasion or high-pressure mechanical seals. And keep it away from fuels and petroleum oils — for those, see nitrile or Viton.
Compare all seven compounds in our material guide, then shop by size — every washer ships in silicone and six other materials.