Silicone vs PVC: The Differences You May want to know

They are two different materials. Silicone material belongs to rubber material, while PVC belongs to plastic material.

Material characteristics

Silicone products are more cold-resistant and more heat-resistant than PVC products. Tableware made of silicone material can be heated in a microwave, while PVC can’t.

A: PVC is the world's third-most widely produced

synthetic plastic polymer (after polyethylene and polypropylene[7]). About 40 million tons of PVC are produced each year. It is a thermoplastic polymer. Its properties are usually categorized based on rigid and flexible PVC.

B: Silicone rubber is an elastomer (rubber-like material) composed of silicone—itself a polymer—containing silicon together with carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. The Silicone products can pass the ROHS certification RoHS-certification.pdf and is environmentally friendly reach-certification.pdf.The Silicone products is  BPA and Phthalate free phthalate-free.pdf and biodegradable, long-term use, and other characteristics. 

There is two kind of silicone material. One is Solid silicone. One is Liquid Silicone Rubber.

Making Process

A: PVC-making process

PVC products are made of polyvinyl chloride and oil together with color paste, and its raw materials are made by heating and cooling microinjection epoxy process.

B: Silicone material only needs to use the silicone to add the color masterbatch to suppress and deploy in mixing machine, then put them in the mold by heating and cooling to take shape.

Appearance difference

Touching difference

Hand touch feeling.

The softness and hardness of both can be adjusted, but the PVC does not have tenacity.

Temperature difference

Silicone products have high thermal stability, and the chemical bonds of molecules do not break or decompose under high temperatures.

Silicone is resistant to high and low temperatures and can be used over a wide range of temperatures. The conventional temperature range of -40 ~ 230 degrees within the long-term use.

PVC material is a mainly white powdery amorphous material, density is 1.3-1.5, material vitrification temperature is within 90 degrees, the highest temperature resistance is 170 degrees.

With high temperatures, PVC will be automatically decomposed into hydrogen chloride, beyond the temperature range will automatically catalyze decomposition.

Burning Difference

Rebound strength

Silicone material has a good silicon molecular connecting strength, the rebound strength will be much better.

PVC material products has poor rebound.

Cost difference

Silicone material is more expensive than PVC products in production and manufacturing.

The raw material price of PVC products is low, which is made of synthetic materials.

ZSR Group,all of our products include the Silicone baby products, Silicone Beauty&Health-care, Silicone Pets, Silicone Consumer Electronic Protective Cover, Silicone Housewares Products, Silicone Promotional Gifts all made by Food Grade Silicone material.

Conclusion

From the above differences, we can see that silicone material is safer than PVC, which is more suitable for food and medicine materials.

Any Silicone products or Silicone project need technical support, you could buy custom Silicone products at ZSR Group. ZSR Group has rich experience in producing Silicone products. Visit the ZSR Group website to get more details for the silicone products.

The buring video for Silicone or PVC