Comparison
High-Temperature Flexible Vinyl Methyl Silicone vs PLA
A side-by-side comparison of Vinyl Methyl Silicone Rubber (VMQ) and Polylactic Acid.
Physical
Density
1.12 - 1.52 g/cm³
1.24 g/cm³
Water Absorption (24h)
0.1 - 0.5 %
0.5 %
Transparency
Opaque to Translucent
Semi-transparent
Shrinkage
1.0 - 3.0 %
0.3 – 0.5 %
Mechanical
Young's Modulus
0.001 - 0.01 GPa
3.5 GPa
Tensile Strength
3 - 10 MPa
50 – 65 MPa
Elongation at Break
200 - 700 %
6 %
Impact Strength (Izod)
N/A
16 J/m
Flexural Strength
—
80 MPa
Thermal
Glass Transition Temperature
-100 to -50 °C
60 °C
Melting Point
N/A
150 – 160 °C
Continuous Service Temperature
-60 to 230 °C
45 °C
Heat Deflection Temperature
N/A
55 °C
Electrical
Dielectric Constant
2.8 - 3.0
3.0
Volume Resistivity
10^13 - 10^15 Ohm-cm
10¹⁴ Ω·cm
Dielectric Strength
15 - 30 kV/mm
—
Chemical resistance
Acids
Poor
Fair
Bases
Poor
Poor
Solvents
Poor resistance to hydrocarbon solvents; swells
—
UV Resistance
Excellent
Poor
Alcohols
—
Fair
Hydrolysis
—
Poor
Sustainability
Recyclability
Very Limited
Industrially compostable
Recycling Code
N/A
7
Carbon Footprint
High (energy intensive production)
~1.6 kg CO₂e / kg
Bio-based Content
—
100 %