Yes—silicone is a type of rubber. In technical terms it’s an elastomer (a polymer that can stretch and recover) whose backbone is made of siloxane chains (–Si–O–Si–) rather than the carbon–carbon chains found in natural rubber, SBR, EPDM, or nitrile. Because of this inorganic backbone, silicone rubber keeps its flexibility in extreme temperatures, resists UV/ozone and many chemicals, and cures into long-lasting, electrically insulating or thermally conductive parts and sealants.

Below we explain what makes silicone “rubber,” how it compares with other rubbers, and how our RTV-1 and RTV-2 product families (plus Primers and platinum catalysts) map to real manufacturing and maintenance needs.

1) What Makes Silicone an Elastomer (and how it differs from other rubbers)

Silicone rubbers are built from polysiloxane chains filled with reinforcing silica and functional additives. When the material crosslinks (cures), those chains form a network that stretches and springs back—exactly what a rubber should do. The Si–O bond is longer and more flexible than C–C, giving silicone its famous temperature window and weather resistance.

1.1 Property profile (why industries choose silicone)

Bottom line: silicone is absolutely a rubber, but with a distinct performance envelope. Where temperature, weathering, electrical stability or biocompatibility dominate, silicone outperforms hydrocarbon elastomers. Where fuel resistance or high tear strength are critical, another rubber family—or specialty fluorosilicone—may be a better fit.

2) Rubber, Ready to Use: Our RTV-1 and RTV-2 Silicone Systems

Silicone rubber becomes useful only when it cures into an elastomeric network. Our portfolio covers RTV-1 (one-component) and RTV-2 (two-component) systems so you can pick the curing behavior, speed, and processing method your line demands.

2.1 RTV-1 Silicone Rubber (one-component, moisture cure)

What it is: A pre-mixed paste or flowable compound that cures from ambient moisture. No mixing, no pot-life; just dispense and wait. Common cure chemistries include acetoxy, oxime, and alkoxy.

Why choose RTV-1 for your plant

• Simplified processing: Cartridge or pail, direct dispense. Perfect for adhesives and sealants on assembly lines where metering two parts is impractical.

• Gap-filling & tooling ease: Thixotropic grades hold shape for vertical seams; self-leveling grades flow around components.

• Neutral-cure options: Alkoxy/oxime systems are corrosion-safe for metals and electronics.

• Broad adhesion: With our silicone primers, RTV-1 bonds to glass, aluminum, anodized alloys, many plastics, and coated substrates.

Typical uses from our catalog

• Adhesive & Sealant: Window glazing, HVAC doors, appliance seams.

• Electronics: Conformal coating and light-duty encapsulation where room-temperature cure and dielectric stability matter.

• Industrial Coating & Lubrication: Release and protective films in harsh environments.

• Primers: Surface activation to lock in adhesion on low-energy or oxidized materials.

Process notes for best results

• Ensure 2–3 mm bead depth allows moisture to penetrate; very thick sections cure from the outside in.

• Control humidity (40–60% RH) and temperature (20–30 °C) for predictable cure times.

• Use neutral-cure grades around copper, brass, and sensitive electronics.

2.2 RTV-2 Silicone Rubber (two-component, room-temperature or heat accelerated)

What it is: Two parts—base and curing agent—are mixed and cure uniformly throughout the mass. We supply both condensation-cure and addition-cure (platinum) systems.

A) Condensation-Cure RTV-2

• Catalyst: Tin or other condensation catalysts.

• Features: Tolerant of moisture; available in soft gels to medium rubbers; good for molding, casting, and general encapsulation.

• Advantages: Forgiving mix; cure at room temperature; good release properties for prototype molds.

• Considerations: By-products evolve during cure; dimensional change is slightly higher than platinum systems.

B) Addition-Cure (Platinum-Catalyzed) RTV-2

• Catalyst: Platinum; crosslinks via hydrosilylation—no by-products.

• Features: Low shrink, excellent clarity options, medical/food-contact grades, fast heat cure; tunable hardness from gel to 60+ Shore A.

• Advantages for production: Precision molding, electronic potting, LED optics, over-molding on plastics/metals.

• Considerations: Sensitive to poisons (sulfur, amines, tin, some rubbers, certain Release Agents). We provide compatibility guides and platinum catalyst concentrates to tune cure speed.

Where our RTV-2 shines

• Molding: Reusable tooling for concrete, stone, wax, and resin casting; detailed replication due to low surface tension and high tear-resistant grades.

• Electronics potting/encapsulation: Thermally stable, dielectric; filled grades offer thermal conductivity while keeping softness for stress relief.

• Medical & wearables (select grades): Skin-contact compliant, soft-touch gels, rapid-cure processing.

• Industrial gaskets and form-in-place seals: Accurate bead geometry, rapid green strength with heat.

Processing essentials

• Meter/mix at recommended ratio (e.g., 10:1 or 1:1) with static or dynamic mixers.

• Degas under vacuum for bubble-free optics or thin-wall gaskets.

• Avoid cure inhibition in platinum systems—test suspect substrates or use our Silicone Rubber Primers as barriers.

3) Is Silicone “Better” Than Other Rubbers? Choosing the Right Elastomer

“Better” depends on the job. Use the matrix below to map performance to your application:

Key takeaway: silicone is absolutely a rubber, and in temperature, stability, and electrical domains it’s often the best rubber. Where hydrocarbons dominate (fuels, certain oils), choose a specialty silicone (e.g., fluorosilicone) or another elastomer.

4) Getting Reliable Bonds and Cures: Primers & Catalysts from Our Portfolio

Adhesion primers (for both RTV-1 and RTV-2)

• Promote chemical bonding to glass, aluminum, stainless, ceramics, many plastics, and painted/coated metals.

• Improve peel and shear performance in thermal cycling and moisture.

• Fast application: wipe/brush thin film, flash off solvent, then apply silicone within the primer’s open time.

Platinum catalysts & cure accelerators (RTV-2 addition cure)

• Tailor snap time and demold: increase throughput without sacrificing low shrink or clarity.

• Offer inhibition-resistant variants for challenging substrates, plus technical support to screen for poisons (e.g., sulfur in some rubbers, amines in epoxy primers).

Industrial lubrications & coatings (silicone-based)

• Reduce friction, provide release for molding, and deliver thin hydrophobic films that dovetail with RTV assembly processes.

Conclusion

Silicone is unequivocally a type of rubber—a high-performance elastomer built on a siloxane backbone. What sets it apart is its temperature resilience, weatherability, dielectric stability, and long-term elastic recovery. Our RTV-1 (one-component, moisture-cure) and RTV-2 (two-component, condensation or platinum cure) product families deliver that rubber performance in forms tuned for adhesives and sealants, electronics, industrial coatings and lubrications, primers, molding, and encapsulation.

Choose silicone rubber when you need durable sealing and protection across extreme environments; pair it with the right primer and catalyst to achieve consistent, production-ready results.