# Stockwell Elastomerics > Custom Silicone Gaskets, Custom Gaskets Manufacturing --- ## Pages - [Precision Silicone Solutions at the Design-2-Part Show – Oaks, PA](https://www.stockwell.com/d2p-oaks-2025/) - [Emerging Defense Technologies](https://www.stockwell.com/emerging-defense-technologies/) - [Micro Molding with Liquid Silicone Rubber](https://www.stockwell.com/micro-molding/) - [Space Grade Silicone](https://www.stockwell.com/space-grade-silicone/) - [AI Assistant](https://www.stockwell.com/ai-assistant/) - [Terms of Service](https://www.stockwell.com/ai-assistant/terms-of-service/) - [Fluoroelastomer Data Sheets](https://www.stockwell.com/fluoroelastomer-data-sheets/) - [Request a Free PORON® Touch Brochure](https://www.stockwell.com/request-a-free-poron-touch-brochure/) - [Fluoroelastomer (FKM) Materials](https://www.stockwell.com/fluoroelastomer-fkm-materials/) - [Viton™ Gaskets, Fluoroelastomer (FKM) Gaskets](https://www.stockwell.com/viton-gaskets-fkm-gaskets/) - [Platinum Cured Silicones vs. Peroxide Cured Silicones](https://www.stockwell.com/platinum-cured-silicones-vs-peroxide-cured-silicones/) - [Quick Tech Help](https://www.stockwell.com/tech-help/) - [Stockwell Elastomerics' Culture](https://www.stockwell.com/stockwell-elastomerics-culture/) - [Gasket Assembly Service](https://www.stockwell.com/gasket-assembly-service/) - [Gasket Assembly Techniques](https://www.stockwell.com/gasket-assembly-techniques/) - [Custom Formulated Silicones](https://www.stockwell.com/custom-formulated-silicones/) - [Insert Molding](https://www.stockwell.com/insert-molding/) - [Flash Cut Gaskets & Pads](https://www.stockwell.com/flash-cut-gaskets-pads/) - [Material Testing Capabilities](https://www.stockwell.com/material-testing-capabilities/) - [Chemical Resistant Gaskets](https://www.stockwell.com/chemical-resistant-gaskets/) - [Developed Thickness, Multi-Layer, Custom Thickness](https://www.stockwell.com/elastomer-bonding-developed-thickness/) - [Foreign Object Debris (FOD) Seals and Gaskets](https://www.stockwell.com/foreign-object-debris-fod-seals-and-gaskets/) - [Robotics and Factory Automation](https://www.stockwell.com/robotics-and-factory-automation/) - [A-A-59588 Silicones for Military and Aerospace Gaskets](https://www.stockwell.com/a-a-59588/) - [Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment](https://www.stockwell.com/semiconductor-manufacturing-equipment/) - [Request a DP-1001 Sample](https://www.stockwell.com/request-a-dp-1001-sample/) - [IP Ratings for Sealed Enclosures](https://www.stockwell.com/ip-ratings-for-sealed-enclosures/) - [HCR vs. LSR Silicones: Crosslinking and Mechanical Properties](https://www.stockwell.com/hcr-vs-lsr-silicones/) - [What is Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) and EMI Shielding?](https://www.stockwell.com/what-is-electromagnetic-interference-emi-and-emi-shielding/) - [Dielectric Barrier Pads & Gaskets, Silicone Electrical Insulation](https://www.stockwell.com/dielectric-barrier-pads-gaskets-silicone-electrical-insulation/) - [Prototype Silicone Gaskets & Pads, Gasket Prototyping](https://www.stockwell.com/prototype-silicone-gaskets-pads-gasket-prototyping/) - [Contact For Prototyping](https://www.stockwell.com/contact-prototyping/) - [Request ESS4722 Samples](https://www.stockwell.com/request-ess4722-samples/) - [Request a Meeting](https://www.stockwell.com/request-a-meeting/) - [Request Silicone Sponge with Conductive Coating for ESD Protection Sample](https://www.stockwell.com/request-silicone-sponge-with-esd-conductive-coating-sample/) - [Silicone and Elastomer Supply Chain Status](https://www.stockwell.com/supply-chain-status/) - [Ultra-Thin Silicone Rubber Gaskets with Adhesive Backing](https://www.stockwell.com/ultra-thin-silicone-rubber-gaskets-with-adhesive-backing/) - [Request Ultra-Thin Silicone Rubber Samples with Adhesive Backing](https://www.stockwell.com/request-ultra-thin-silicone-rubber-samples-with-adhesive-backing/) - [Space Vehicles and Support Infrastructure](https://www.stockwell.com/space-vehicles/) - [Request a Nickel-Aluminum Sample](https://www.stockwell.com/sna-sample/) - [Employment at Stockwell Elastomerics](https://www.stockwell.com/employment-at-stockwell-elastomerics/) - [Stockwell Elastomerics, a Specialty Silicone Products (SSP) Partner](https://www.stockwell.com/ssp-partner/) - [Stockwell Elastomerics Status - COVID-19](https://www.stockwell.com/stockwell-elastomerics-status-covid-19/) - [Request an SSP4749 / Platinum Cured HCR Silicone Touch Brochure](https://www.stockwell.com/ssp4749-touch-brochure/) - [Conductive Elastomers and Conductive Silicone Gasket Materials Used by Stockwell Elastomerics](https://www.stockwell.com/conductive-elastomers-conductive-gasket-materials/) - [Request a Fluorosilicone Touch Brochure](https://www.stockwell.com/fluorosilicone-touch-brochure/) - [Request an Electric Signage UL 48 Gasket Material Touch Brochure](https://www.stockwell.com/electric-signage-touch-brochure/) - [Request a Free EMI Gaskets Materials Touch Brochure](https://www.stockwell.com/emi-touch-brochure/) - [Request a Free Liquid Silicone Rubber Touch Brochure](https://www.stockwell.com/lsr-touch-brochure/) - [Request a Free Solar Inverter Gasket Materials Touch Brochure](https://www.stockwell.com/solar-inverter-touch-brochure/) - [Stockwell Elastomerics, Inc. History](https://www.stockwell.com/stockwell-elastomerics-history/) - [ESD, EMI, and Electrically Conductive Rubber Technical Data Sheets](https://www.stockwell.com/esd-emi-data-sheets/) - [PORON® Data Sheets](https://www.stockwell.com/poron-data-sheets/) - [Thermally Conductive Materials Data Sheets](https://www.stockwell.com/thermal-materials-data-sheets/) - [Silicone Sponge and Silicone Foam Sheet Material Data Sheets](https://www.stockwell.com/silicone-sponge-foam-data-sheets/) - [Reinforced Materials Data Sheets](https://www.stockwell.com/reinforced-materials-data-sheets/) - [Gasket Tape / Strip Gasket Technical Data and Selection Guide](https://www.stockwell.com/gasket-tape-strip-gaskets-data-sheets/) - [Closed Cell Rubber, Neoprene Data Sheets](https://www.stockwell.com/closed-cell-rubber-data-sheets/) - [Fluorosilicone Data Sheets](https://www.stockwell.com/fluorosilicone-data-sheets/) - [Molding Compounds Data Sheets](https://www.stockwell.com/molding-compounds-data-sheets/) - [Adhesives and Pressure Sensitive Adhesives (PSA) Technical Data Sheets](https://www.stockwell.com/adhesives-data-sheets/) - [Information about Stockwell Elastomerics for Buyers](https://www.stockwell.com/buyers/) - [AS9100 and ISO 9001 Certifications, ITAR Registered](https://www.stockwell.com/iso-certification/) - [Stockwell Elastomerics, a Rogers Corporation Partner](https://www.stockwell.com/rogers-corporation-partner/) - [Stockwell Elastomerics, a Saint-Gobain Partner for NORSEAL® Silicone](https://www.stockwell.com/saint-gobain-partner/) - [Stockwell Elastomerics, a 3M Preferred Converter](https://www.stockwell.com/3m-partner/) - [Press / News](https://www.stockwell.com/press/) - [General Privacy Policy Statement](https://www.stockwell.com/privacy-policy/) - [Website Terms and Conditions / Legal Notices](https://www.stockwell.com/terms/) - [Request a Free Silicone Foam Touch Brochure](https://www.stockwell.com/silicone-foam-touch-brochure/) - [Stockwell Elastomerics' Support for the Medical Device Industry](https://www.stockwell.com/medical-industry-support/) - [Solid Silicone Data Sheets](https://www.stockwell.com/solid-silicone-data-sheets/) - [Request a Free Silicone Sponge / Silicone Foam Gasket Tape Touch Brochure](https://www.stockwell.com/gasket-tape-touch-brochure/) - [Analytical Instrumentation Components, EMI Shielding and Thermal Management Gaskets and Pads](https://www.stockwell.com/analytical-instrumentation/) - [Renewable Energy Applications for Gaskets and Pads](https://www.stockwell.com/renewable-energy/) - [Solar Inverter Enclosure Gaskets](https://www.stockwell.com/solar-inverter-enclosure-gaskets/) - [Gaskets and Sealing Solutions for EV Charging Stations](https://www.stockwell.com/ev-charging-stations-gaskets-sealing/) - [Medical Diagnostics Devices Applications for  Silicone Gaskets and Cushioning Pads](https://www.stockwell.com/medical-diagnostic-devices/) - [Medical Grade USP Class VI Silicone](https://www.stockwell.com/medical-grade-silicone-rubber/) - [Food Grade Silicone Rubber](https://www.stockwell.com/food-grade-silicone-rubber/) - [Custom Gaskets and Pads for Portable Data Acquisition, Measuring and Sensing Devices](https://www.stockwell.com/portable-data-devices/) - [Telecom Equipment Components, Gaskets and Pads for EMI Shielding and Thermal Management](https://www.stockwell.com/telecom/) - [Airflow Management - Enclosure, Filter and Air Plenum Gaskets](https://www.stockwell.com/airflow-management/) - [Aerospace and Defense Applications for Gaskets and Pads](https://www.stockwell.com/aerospace-and-defense/) - [Custom Gaskets for Ruggedized Equipment and Devices](https://www.stockwell.com/ruggedized-equipment/) - [LED Enclosure Gaskets, LED Lighting Gaskets and Thermal Pads](https://www.stockwell.com/led-lighting/) - [Fuel Cell Gaskets](https://www.stockwell.com/fuel-cell-gaskets/) - [Silicone Foam for Turnout Gear](https://www.stockwell.com/turnout-gear-foam/) - [Electric Signs UL 48 Gaskets](https://www.stockwell.com/electric-signs-ul-48-gaskets/) - [Photo Gallery](https://www.stockwell.com/photo-gallery/) - [Molding](https://www.stockwell.com/mold-design-tech-tips/) - [Dimensional Tolerances for Die Cut and Waterjet Cut Sponge Components](https://www.stockwell.com/cutting-tolerances/) - [Dimensional Tolerances for Rubber Molded Components](https://www.stockwell.com/molding-tolerances/) - [Frequently Asked Questions about Fabricating Rubber Materials](https://www.stockwell.com/materials-faqs/) - [Frequently Asked Questions about Rubber Molding](https://www.stockwell.com/molding-faqs/) - [Comparative Properties of Rubber Materials](https://www.stockwell.com/rubber-comparative-properties/) - [Compression Set of Elastomeric Materials](https://www.stockwell.com/compression-set-testing/) - [Glossary of Rubber Industry and Synthetic Rubber Terms](https://www.stockwell.com/glossary/) - [Specifications Reference Overview](https://www.stockwell.com/specifications-tables/) - [Silicone Pads - for Cushioning, Damping and Isolation](https://www.stockwell.com/silicone-pads/) - [Liquid Injection Molding of Liquid Silicone Rubber for Molded Silicone Parts, Gaskets, Sheets and Rolls](https://www.stockwell.com/molded-lsr/) --- ## Posts - [Silicone Seals and Gaskets for Select HVAC Applications](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/silicone-seals-and-gaskets-for-select-hvac-applications/) - [How to Choose the Right Silicone Gasket Material for Harsh Environments](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/how-to-choose-the-right-silicone-gasket-material-for-harsh-environments/) - [Stockwell Elastomerics Expands Micro Molding Capabilities with Sodick Injection Molding Machine](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/stockwell-expands-micro-lsr-molding-capacity-with-sodick/) - [Silicone Foam vs. Silicone Sponge: Key Differences and Application Selection](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/silicone-foam-vs-silicone-sponge-key-differences-and-application-selection/) - [Solid State Battery Technology Continues to Advance](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/solid-state-battery-technology-continues-to-advance/) - [Anti Static Rubber with UL 94V-0 Flame Resistance](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/anti-static-rubber-with-ul-94v-0-flame-resistance/) - [PORON vs. Silicone for Sealing, Gasketing, and Cushioning](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/poron-vs-silicone-for-sealing-gasketing-and-cushioning/) - [Adhesive Technology: Adhesion vs. Cohesion](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/adhesive-technology-adhesion-vs-cohesion/) - [Advancing Safety and Durability in eVTOL with BISCO® BF-1000 Silicone Foam](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/advancing-safety-and-durability-in-evtol-with-bisco-bf-1000-silicone-foam/) - [From Quartz to Gasket and Everything In Between](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/from-quartz-to-gasket-and-everything-in-between/) - [Advanced Air Mobility: Sealing and Gap Filling Solutions for eVTOLs](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/advanced-air-mobility-sealing-and-gap-filling-solutions-for-evtols/) - [Fabricating eVTOL: An Overview of Silicone Materials for Advanced Air Mobility](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/fabricating-evtol-an-overview-of-silicone-materials-for-advanced-air-mobility/) - [Space Grade Silicone for Low Temperatures with Low Outgassing](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/space-grade-silicone-for-low-temperatures-with-low-outgassing/) - [Fortune Magazine - Bill Stockwell on ESOP at Stockwell Elastomerics](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/fortune-magazine-bill-stockwell-on-esop/) - [The Benefits of Silicone Materials for Gaskets and Pads](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/benefits-of-silicone-materials-for-gaskets-and-pads/) - [New Technical Tips Page Comparing Platinum Cured Silicones and Peroxide Cured Silicones Now Live](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/new-technical-tips-page-comparing-platinum-cured-silicones-and-peroxide-cured-silicones-now-live/) - [High Performance Elastomers In Stock and Ready for Energy Sector Use](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/high-performance-elastomers-in-stock-and-ready-for-energy-sector-use/) - [Custom Compression Force Deflection (CFD) Testing Video](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/custom-compression-force-deflection-cfd-testing-video/) - [Culture and Community at Stockwell Elastomerics](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/culture-and-community-at-stockwell-elastomerics/) - [Conductive Pressure Sensitive Adhesives Update](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/conductive-pressure-sensitive-adhesives-update/) - [Stockwell Elastomerics Launches New Website](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/stockwell-elastomerics-launches-new-website/) - [Meet with Stockwell Elastomerics at Satellite 2024](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/meet-with-stockwell-elastomerics-at-satellite-2024/) - [Fabricated Gaskets vs. RTV Gaskets vs. FIP Gaskets](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/fabricated-gaskets-rtv-gaskets-fip-gaskets-comparison/) - [Silicone Supply Chain Update – Q4 2023](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/silicone-supply-chain-update-q4-2023/) - [Stockwell Elastomerics Hosts Rubber Industry Professionals and ARPM Members for Nov 2023 Plant Tour](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/arpm-members-nov-2023-plant-tour/) - [New 3D Printer Enhances Stockwell Elastomerics' Manufacturing Capabilities](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/new-3d-printer-enhances-stockwell-elastomerics-manufacturing-capabilities/) - [Stockwell Elastomerics Now Offers Reformulated BISCO BF-1000, HT-800, and HT-840](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/reformulated-bisco-bf-1000-ht-800-ht-840/) - [New 5-Axis Waterjet Cutting Machine](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/new-5-axis-waterjet-cutting-machine/) - [Second Research and Development Event - Ideas into Action](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/second-research-and-development-event-ideas-into-action/) - [Rapid Response for Gaskets and Sealing Devices Production](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/rapid-response-for-gaskets-and-sealing-devices-production/) - [Domestic Sourcing and Refocusing on Core Values](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/domestic-sourcing-core-values/) - [Stockwell Elastomerics Announces Lead Time Improvements](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/lead-time-improvements/) - [Silicone Market Predictions and 2023’s Promising Start](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/silicone-market-predictions-and-2023s-promising-start/) - [Stockwell Elastomerics Advances to 3M Preferred Converter Status](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/stockwell-elastomerics-advances-to-3m-preferred-converter-status/) - [Ultra-Soft, Silicone-Based P-THERM® Gap Fillers from Polymer Science](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/ultra-soft-silicone-based-p-therm-gap-fillers-from-polymer-science/) - [Norseal F-12, F-15 and F-20 Silicone Foam](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/norseal-f-12-and-f-20-silicone-foam/) - [High Performance Fluorosilicone – Stockwell Elastomerics Expands Investment and Focus](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/high-performance-fluorosilicone-stockwell-elastomerics-expands-investment-and-focus/) - [Compression Force Deflection Overview - Compression Phenomenon Blog Part 2](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/compression-force-deflection-overview-compression-phenomenon-blog-part-2/) - [Compression Phenomenon, Part 1 of a New Blog Series](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/compression-phenomenon-part-1-of-a-new-blog-series/) - [ESS4772 Ultra-Thin Platinum Cured Silicone Now Available](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/ess4772-ultra-thin-platinum-cured-silicone-now-available/) - [Stockwell Elastomerics Conducts Its First Research and Development Event](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/stockwell-elastomerics-conducts-its-first-research-and-development-event/) - [Gasket Materials - Roof Test Results, 4 Years Later](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/gasket-materials-roof-test-results-4-years-later/) - [Silicon Metal – a Critical Need to Support the Silicone Rubber Industry](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/silicon-metal-a-critical-need-to-support-the-silicone-rubber-industry/) - [Molding Operations Phase 2 Complete, Expansion Done](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/molding-operations-phase-2-complete-expansion-done/) - [Thermal Gap Fillers Instead of Thermal Grease - Taking the Mess Out of Using Heat Transfer Products](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/thermal-gap-fillers-instead-of-thermal-grease-taking-the-mess-out-of-using-heat-transfer-products/) - [Elastomer Outgassing and Its Importance](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/elastomer-outgassing-and-its-importance/) - [Medical Molding and Fabrication for Non-Implants and Non-Critical Devices](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/medical-molding-and-fabrication-for-non-implants-and-non-critical-devices/) - [Using Advanced Technologies for Gasket Engineering](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/using-advanced-technologies-for-gasket-engineering/) - [Reshoring and Globalization – A Technical Materials Company Approach in 2022](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/reshoring-and-globalization-a-technical-materials-company-approach-in-2022/) - [Stockwell Elastomerics Completes Phase 1 Expansion in Molding Operations](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/stockwell-elastomerics-completes-phase-1-expansion-in-molding-operations/) - [Hitting the Virtual Road with Stockwell Elastomerics](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/hitting-the-virtual-road-with-stockwell-elastomerics/) - [Drexel Co-ops at Stockwell Elastomerics - Part 2](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/drexel-co-ops-at-stockwell-elastomerics-part-2/) - [Electrically Conductive Adhesives](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/electrically-conductive-adhesives/) - [Platinum Cured Silicone Foam Availability](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/platinum-cured-silicone-foam-availability/) - [Stockwell Elastomerics Engages the Team in 2021 – ESOP Expansion](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/stockwell-elastomerics-engages-the-team-in-2021-esop-expansion/) - [Silicone Sponge Gaskets and Pads with Conductive Coating for ESD Protection](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/silicone-sponge-gaskets-and-pads-with-conductive-coating-for-esd-protection/) - [Ultra-Thin Silicone Rubber with Adhesive Backing for Gaskets and Seals](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/ultra-thin-silicone-rubber-with-adhesive-backing-for-gaskets-and-seals/) - [Material Selection – Compression Set Resistance and Stress Relaxation](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/material-selection-compression-set-resistance-and-stress-relaxation/) - [Earth Day 2021 Clean-Up Project](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/earth-day-2021-clean-up-project/) - [Methyl Phenyl Silicone / Ultra Low Temp Silicone Gaskets for Extreme Environments](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/methyl-phenyl-silicone-ultra-low-temp-silicone-gaskets-for-extreme-environments/) - [Stockwell Elastomerics Increases Raw Material Investment](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/stockwell-elastomerics-increases-raw-material-investment/) - [Silicone Sponge, Silicone Foam, Solid Silicone - Selection Guide](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/silicone-sponge-foam-solid-selection-guide/) - [Rogers Arlon Silicone Sponge Now Available](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/rogers-arlon-silicone-sponge-now-available/) - [New EMI Gasket Materials: Nickel-Aluminum Silicone (SNA-568) and Fluorosilicone (SNAF-572)](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/new-emi-gasket-materials-nickel-aluminum-silicone-sna-568-and-fluorosilicone-snaf-572/) - [COVID-19 Response - Manufacturing Efforts by Stockwell Elastomerics](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/covid-19-response-manufacturing-efforts-by-stockwell-elastomerics/) - [Applying Adhesives to Silicone - Update](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/applying-adhesives-to-silicone-update/) - [Gasket Materials - Roof Test Results, 2 Years Later](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/gasket-materials-roof-test-results-2-years-later/) - [Drexel Co-ops at Stockwell Elastomerics](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/drexel-co-ops-at-stockwell-elastomerics/) - [Silicone Sponge and Silicone Foam Gasket Tape with DP-1001 Silicone Adhesive for Extreme Conditions is Now Available](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/silicone-sponge-and-silicone-foam-gasket-tape-with-dp-1001-silicone-adhesive-for-extreme-conditions-is-now-available/) - [Static Seal Failure Modes](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/static-seal-failure-modes/) - [Gore Discontinues EMI Shielding Materials GS2100, GS5200, GS8000](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/gore-discontinues-emi-shielding-materials-gs2100-gs5200-gs8000/) - [P-THERM® Silicone Gap Fillers from Polymer Science](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/p-therm-silicone-gap-fillers-from-polymer-science/) - [Seal Design - 3 Considerations](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/seal-design-3-considerations/) - [SSP4749 / Platinum Cured HCR Silicone Touch Brochure Now Available](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/ssp4749-platinum-cured-hcr-silicone-touch-brochure-now-available/) - [Dow XIAMETER™ 50-Durometer LSR with UL 94V-0 Rating Now Available](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/dow-xiameter-50-durometer-lsr-with-ul-94v-0-rating-now-available/) - [Gasket Tape Whitepaper Free Download Now Available](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/gasket-tape-whitepaper-free-download-now-available/) - [Gasket Tape Demonstration Video Now Available](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/gasket-tape-demonstration-video-now-available/) - [100 Year Anniversary Party at Stockwell Elastomerics](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/100-year-anniversary-party-at-stockwell-elastomerics/) - [Founders Day – 100 years ago](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/founders-day-100-years-ago/) - [Gasket Materials - Roof Test Results, 1 Year Later](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/gasket-materials-roof-test-results-1-year-later/) - [Release Liners and Adhesive Backings for Gaskets](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/release-liners-and-adhesive-backings-for-gaskets/) - [Video - Bill Stockwell Describes Stockwell Elastomerics' Offerings](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/video-bill-stockwell-describes-stockwell-elastomerics-offerings/) - [Silicone Supply Challenges Continue](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/silicone-supply-challenges-continue/) - [Bill Stockwell Named Executive of the Year by Rubber & Plastics News](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/bill-stockwell-named-executive-of-the-year-by-rubber-plastics-news/) - [New High-Performance Fluorosilicone Products Available](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/new-high-performance-fluorosilicone-products-available/) - [Rubber & Plastics News Article on Stockwell Elastomerics](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/rubber-plastics-news-article-on-stockwell-elastomerics/) - [EMI Gasket Design - 4 Considerations](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/emi-gasket-design-4-considerations/) - [Gasket Materials Testing - Weather, Sun, Age](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/gasket-materials-testing-weather-sun-age/) - [Designing a Battery Pad for Li-Ion Pouch Cells](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/designing-battery-pad-for-li-ion-pouch/) - [Low Dielectric Loss Elastomers For Radome Antenna Assemblies](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/low-dielectric-loss-elastomers-for-radome-antenna-assemblies/) - [Thermal Gap Filler Pads – Provided Kiss Cut on Release Liner](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/thermal-gap-filler-pads-provided-kiss-cut-on-release-liner/) - [Silicone Sponge Gaskets with Conductive Coating Solve ESD Grounding Issues in Test Chambers](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/silicone-sponge-gaskets-with-conductive-coating-solve-esd-grounding-issues-in-test-chambers/) - [Stockwell Elastomerics Announces ESOP](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/stockwell-elastomerics-announces-esop/) - [Custom Gaskets for Autonomous Vehicles](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/custom-gaskets-for-autonomous-vehicles/) - [Facility Expansion Begins to Increase Material Storage and Production Capacity](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/facility-expansion-begins-to-increase-material-storage-and-production-capacity/) - [Electrically Conductive Gap Filling Foam for Low Volume Production](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/electrically-conductive-gap-filling-foam-for-low-volume-production/) - [Silicone Gaskets and Cushioning Pads for Medical Applications](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/silicone-gaskets-and-cushioning-pads-for-medical-applications/) - [Gaskets and Seals for Electric Vehicles Charging Systems](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/gaskets-and-seals-for-electric-vehicles-charging-systems/) - [Solar Inverter Enclosure Gaskets and New Touch Brochure Available](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/solar-inverter-enclosure-gaskets-and-new-touch-brochure-available/) - [How to Remove Liner from Foam Gasket](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/how-to-remove-liner-from-foam-gasket/) - [Turnout Gear Foam Padding](https://www.stockwell.com/blog/turnout-gear-foam-padding/) --- # # Detailed Content ## Pages High Strength Reinforced Silicone Sheet Material PDF# Material Thickness Reinforcement Coating Description 600 NORSEAL 3320 0. 062 - 0. 125" Glass Fabric Silicone - Sealing Grade Silicone - Dimensionally Stable - Wide Temp, -100 to 500°F - Made to Pass AMS-3320 601 CF 1007 . 007" Glass Fabric Silicone - Wide Temp, -85 to 500°F - Stitchable Silicone Sheet - Low Elongation - White 602 CF 35215 . 015" Glass Fabric Liquid Silicone - High Grip / Anti-slip - Wide Temp, -60 to 400°F - Black 603 CF 1115 . 015" Glass Fabric Silicone - Wide Temp, -85 to 500°F - Stitchable Silicone Sheet - Made to pass AMS-3315F - Red / Brown 604 CF 1032 . 032" Glass Fabric Silicone - Wide Temp, -85 to 500°F - Stitchable Silicone Sheet - Electric Insulator - White 605 CF 4480 . 062" Glass Fabric Silicone - High Temp, 600°F (short term) - 81 Durometer - Abrasion Resistant - Reversion Resistant - Black 606 HT-1500 . 032 - . 125" Glass Fabric Silicone - 70 Durometer - Orange/Red - Made to Pass AMS-3320 607 R10450 . 062 - . 188" Glass Fabric Silicone Sponge - Medium Firmness - Closed Cell Sponge - X & Y Dimensional Stability - Blue/Grey Reinforced EMI Gasket Material - Nickel Graphite PDF# Material Thickness Reinforcement Coating Description 610 SNE-540-R . 020" . 032" Conductive Fabric Electrically Conductive Silicone - . 004 ohm/cm, Vol. Res. - 40 Durometer - High Tensile Strength - X & Y Dimensional Stability... --- Size (Millimeters) Size (Inches) Above - Included Fixed Closure Above - Included Fixed Closure 0 - 10 ±. 16 ±. 20 0 - . 40 ±. 006 ±. 008 10 - 16 . 20 . 25 . 40 - . 63 . 008 . 010 16 - 25 . 25 . 32 . 63 - 1. 00 . 010 . 013 25 - 40 . 32 . 40 1. 00 - 1. 60 . 013 . 016 40 - 63 . 40 . 50 1. 60 - 2. 50 . 016 . 020 63 - 100 . 50 . 63 2. 50 - 4. 00 . 020 . 025 100 - 160 . 63 . 80 4. 00 - 6. 30 . 025 . 032 160 & over X . 004 x . 005 6. 30 & over X . 004 X . 005 Size (Millimeters) Size (Inches) Above - Included Fixed Closure Above - Included Fixed Closure 0 - 10 ±. 20 ±. 32 0 - . 40 ±. 008 ±. 013 10 - 16 . 25 . 40 . 40 - . 63 . 010 . 016 16 - 25 . 32 . 50 . 63 - 1. 00 . 013 . 020 25 - 40 . 40 . 63 1. 00 - 1. 60 . 016 . 025 40 - 63 . 50 . 80 1. 60 - 2. 50 . 020 . 032 63 - 100 . 63 1. 00 2. 50 - 4. 00 .... --- Glossary of Rubber Industry and Synthetic Rubber Terms Term Definition Abrasion Resistance The resistance to surface loss of a rubber material due to frictional forces. (ASTM D-2228) Aging Accelerated aging tests are run on various rubbers to find out in as short a time period as possible the destructive influence of light, oxygen, heat, and ozone. Natural or shelf aging requires many years for proper evaluation, so accelerated aging tests will give comparative values in short periods of time; however, there is no absolute correlation between natural aging and accelerated aging. Buna-N See Nitril Buna-S See SBR Butyl Isobutylene - Isoprene Rubber, Low Rebound, Motor Mounts, Low Gas Permeability, Limited Heat and Oil Resistance. ASTM Designation IIR Chloroprene Rubber Neoprene, Physicals, Oil & Chemical Resistance, Outdoor Reliability are all very good. Heat Resistance to 300° F. ASTM Designation IIR. Compression Molding "Chunks" of uncured, premixed rubber are placed in each part cavity of a two plate mold. Compressed between two platens in a press under heat and pressure. Compression Set The ability of rubber to return to its original thickness after prolonged compressive stresses at a given temperature and deflection. (ASTM D-395) Dielectric Properties The ability of material to resist the puncture due to electrical stress. This property is expressed in terms of volts per Mil thickness. (Volts per . 001" thickness. ) Durometer (Hardness) Hardness as a property of rubber is difficult to define except according to the methods used to determine it. These methods measure the resistance of... --- Heat Aging Examples Specification Test Criteria Conditions ASTM D 1056 Compression Deflection 168 hrs @ 158°F (70°C) / 22 hrs @ 302°F (150°C) Compression Set 22 hrs @ 158°F (70°C) / 22 hrs @ 212°F (100°C) UL 48 (signs) Tensile or elongation 70 hours @ 212°F (100°C) Visual (cracking after flexing) 70hrs @ 212°F (100°C) UL 50 (enclosures) Tensile and elongation 168 hours @ 158°F (70°C) UL 157 (gasket and seals) Tensile and elongation 70 hours @ 212°F (100°C) UL 508 (industrial controls) Tensile and elongation 70 hours @ 212°F (100°C) --- Material Description CFD @ 25% (psi) BF-2000 Ultra Soft Open Cell Silicone Foam 1. 6 BF-1000 Extra Soft Open Cell Silicone Foam 2. 5 PORON, 4790-92 Extra Soft Open Cell PORON (urethane) 2. 6 PORON, 4701-30 Very Soft Open Cell PORON (urethane) 3. 2 R10480S Soft Closed Cell Silicone Sponge 6 R10470M Medium Closed Cell Silicone Sponge 10 R10490M Fluorosilicone Closed Cell Sponge 13. 3 SE2010 10 Durometer Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) 25. 2 SE2020 20 Durometer Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) 48. 2 --- Stockwell Data Sheets Categories ESD, EMI, and Electrically Conductive Materials Stockwell Elastomerics Company Brochure Stockwell Elastomerics Company Brochure (PDF, 12 pages) References Specifications Overview Glossary of Rubber Industry and Synthetic Rubber Terms --- Stockwell Elastomerics serves the engineers and product designers with high performance gasket and cushioning materials. Each type of application has a unique set of performance characteristics required to ensure proper sealing or cushioning. This Gasket Types section offers insight into common applications for gaskets and pads. Common types of gaskets include: Silicone Gaskets Silicone Pads Molded LSR Silicone O-Rings, Custom O-Rings, Silicone Seals Custom Gaskets Vibration Dampening Pads Enclosure Gaskets EMI Gaskets - Conductive Rubber EMI Gaskets - Combination Prototype Silicone Gaskets & Pads, Gasket Prototyping Gasket Tape Custom Gasket Strips Adhesive Backed Gaskets Touch Screen Gaskets Connector Gaskets Chamber Port Plugs, Foam Port Plugs, E-Plugs™ for Environmental Test Chambers Thermal Gap Filler Pads Custom Conductive Gaskets & Pads Heat Press Pads, Heat Press Film Elastomeric Gaskets Ultra-Thin Silicone Rubber Gaskets with Adhesive Backing Contact Stockwell Elastomerics for Custom Gaskets Contact Us for further assistance with gaskets of various types. --- Why Work with Stockwell Elastomerics? Stockwell Elastomerics provides custom gaskets for the fast paced and demanding requirements of the technology equipment sector, where service conditions often require high performance materials such as silicone rubber. Problem Solving Design & Engineering - Stockwell Elastomerics' engineers work closely with customers to help select materials, resolve design challenges and suggest manufacturing processes that best fit the specific application. Inventory of High Performance Materials Material Solutions - Stockwell Elastomerics' core business is silicone rubber. In stock is a comprehensive inventory of silicone and other engineered materials that are designed and manufactured to exceed the requirements of the most demanding technical gasketing, sealing and cushioning applications. Responsive Manufacturing Experienced Staff - Stockwell Elastomerics' people make the difference - cross-trained staff is dedicated to providing quality products. In-house CNC cutting, die cutting, water jet cutting, compression and injection molding, and adhesive lamination, supported by comprehensive inventory, complete the competitive advantage. --- --- ## Posts - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics silicone seals and gaskets are frequently used in targeted Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) applications where equipment designers require materials that maintain performance during temperature cycling, outdoor exposure, and mechanical vibration. HVAC systems in commercial and industrial environments rely on reliable sealing to support consistent airflow management and indoor air quality. Silicone materials are often selected because they offer extreme temperature resistance, UV and ozone resistance, vibration dampening, and long-term durability. Why Silicone Is Often Used in HVAC-Related Components Silicone foams and sponges maintain flexibility and compression set performance across a wide temperature range—typically from –60 °C to +200 °C, depending on the grade. This stability helps support consistent sealing in components exposed to: Rooftop or outdoor weather conditions Heating elements or elevated internal temperatures Repeated thermal expansion and contraction Vibration from motors, compressors, and blowers These characteristics make silicone a practical option for certain HVAC gasketing uses, especially where long-term environmental stability is a priority. Adhesive-Backed Silicone Gaskets for Easier Installation Stockwell Elastomerics applies a wide range of 3M™ acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) to silicone foam and sponge to assist in the installation of these gasketing materials. Adhesive-backed silicone gaskets help installers by: Holding the gasket in place before final compression Reducing installation time and alignment challenges Eliminating the need for liquid adhesives or temporary fixtures This installation support is especially valuable for contractors and OEM technicians working with multi-panel enclosures, access doors, or irregular sealing geometries. Specialty Silicone Materials Available To support HVAC-related design requirements,... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Silicone gaskets offer exceptional performance in harsh environments, but not all silicones are the same. Engineers should evaluate durometer, compression set, thermal cycling, chemical resistance, and UV/ozone stability—selecting solid, sponge, foam, or fluorosilicone materials based on application stress and exposure. What makes silicone gaskets ideal for harsh environments? Silicone rubber retains flexibility and sealing integrity across a wide temperature range (typically –60 °C to +230 °C) and resists ozone, UV, and weathering better than most elastomers. For applications such as aerospace controls, outdoor telecommunications, or semiconductor tools, silicone gaskets provide long-term sealing stability where EPDM or neoprene would degrade. Stockwell Elastomerics supplies engineered silicone gasketing materials from industry leaders including Rogers Corporation, Saint-Gobain, and Specialty Silicone Products (SSP). These include: Edit Material TypeCell StructureTypical ApplicationsNotes Silicone SpongeClosed-cellOutdoor NEMA enclosures, base stationsExcellent IP-rated sealing under compression Silicone FoamOpen- or closed-cellInstrument housings, LED fixturesAvailable in UL 94 V-0 rated grades Solid SiliconeNon-cellularHigh-pressure or rigid enclosure sealsTight-tolerance die-cut and molded gaskets FluorosiliconeSolid or spongeChemical/fuel-exposed aerospace systemsResists hydrocarbons, solvents, and de-icers How do key material properties influence gasket performance? Selecting a gasket for harsh conditions requires more than specifying “silicone. ” The following parameters guide optimal performance: 1. Firmness Firmness is measured differently based on the type of material used. For silicone sponges and foams, Compression Force Deflection (CFD) is used. CFD is a measurement of pressure required to deflect a material by 25%. The CFD of material is typically specified based on the available force to drive compression. For solid silicones, durometer, measured... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics, Inc. is announcing its installation of a Sodick GL30A-LSR injection molding machine that supports liquid silicone rubber (LSR) micro molding. Micro molded parts are typically smaller than a dime and require a high degree of accuracy. Stockwell Elastomerics’ investment builds upon an expansion of its Molding Business Unit in 2022 that added new personnel and equipment for a 20% increase in capacity. “Stockwell Elastomerics is committed to meeting the needs of customers in industries ranging from medical and healthcare to electronics, aerospace, defense, and emerging technologies”, said Tom Rimel, Jr. , President of Stockwell Elastomerics. “Our investment in this new injection molding equipment expands our micro molding capabilities and positions us for additional growth. ” As experts in silicone gasket solutions, Stockwell Elastomerics offers a variety of fabrication and molding methods, including liquid injection molding and compression molding. The company’s new Sodick GL30A-LSR injection molding machine supports small LSR parts with tight tolerances molds with small cavities for efficient high-volume production. Stockwell Elastomerics has additional injection molding equipment for larger parts with small features. Stockwell Elastomerics selected the Sodick GL30A-LSR injection molding machine to ensure the more consistent filling of small, intricate cavities. The hydraulic-supported clamping unit for this automated equipment provides a wider range of clamping tonnage, up to 440 kN. Higher tonnages help prevent leaks and short shots, the incomplete filling of mold cavities. The press’ clamping system also supports a wider variety of high count and multi-up molds. Among its advantages, this clamping system helps... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Silicone foam and silicone sponge are both lightweight, compressible elastomeric materials that provide environmental sealing, cushioning, and thermal insulation. The main difference lies in their cell structure and mechanical properties—silicone sponge has a closed-cell structure and higher toughness for harsh outdoor sealing, while silicone foam offers softer compression and flame-rated indoor cushioning. Stockwell Elastomerics fabricates both materials into precision gaskets, pads, and tapes at its Philadelphia facility. What Are Silicone Foam and Silicone Sponge? Silicone foam and silicone sponge are both cellular silicone materials – expanded forms of solid silicone rubber containing internal air pockets. These materials combine silicone’s inherent high-temperature stability and weather resistance with the compressibility and conformability needed for reliable gasket and cushioning performance. Stockwell Elastomerics stocks and fabricates both materials into custom die-cut, waterjet-cut, and adhesive-laminated parts. They are widely used across aerospace, electronics, medical, defense, and industrial equipment where long-term resilience and consistent sealing under compression are critical. How Do Cellular Structures Differ? The most fundamental difference between silicone foam and silicone sponge lies in their cellular structure. Silicone sponge has a closed-cell structure, meaning the internal air pockets are completely enclosed. This prevents water or air from passing between cells, making silicone sponges an excellent choice for environmental or weatherproof sealing, especially in harsh outdoor enclosures, NEMA-rated housings, and wash-down environments. Silicone foam, on the other hand, can be open-cell or partially closed-cell depending on its density. Lower-density or open-cell foams contain more interconnected cells, allowing limited air and moisture movement. Higher-density foams have... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics is monitoring advances in solid state battery technology. This article serves as a primer for industry professionals who are seeking information that can support their own product designs. Solid state batteries are used in electric vehicles (EVs), but there are also specialized applications such as grid scale energy storage, portable medical equipment, satellites, and uncrewed systems. The solid electrolytes that are used are more expensive to produce, but they offer advantages over liquid and gel electrolytes. Battery Electrolytes Battery electrolytes are substances that allow electrically charged particles (ions) to flow between two terminals (electrodes). By enabling this flow, electrolytes facilitate the electrochemical reactions that power batteries. The ideal electrolyte provides high energy density, high ionic conductivity, chemical stability, nonflammability, and high mechanical strength. Electrical insulation and stability within a battery’s operating voltage and temperature range are also required. Liquid Electrolytes and Gel Electrolytes Traditionally, liquid or gel electrolytes have been used in the rechargeable lithium ion batteries found in many EVs and laptop computers. Liquid electrolytes facilitate rapid charging and discharging, and gel electrolytes mitigate the risk of leakage. To produce liquid electrolytes, a salt is dissolved in a liquid solvent. To produce gel electrolytes, a liquid electrolyte is combined with a gelling agent. Liquids and gels have advantages, but they do not meet all the requirements for an ideal electrolyte. Solid Electrolytes Today, solid state batteries are becoming more popular, especially for EVs. They support greater ranges, faster charging, better cold weather performance, and improved fire safety.... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Anti static rubber is designed to prevent the buildup and discharge of static electricity, a form of electrical energy that can damage electronic equipment or ignite flammable materials. Most elastomers are poor conductors of electricity, but they can become polarized when subjected to an electric field. Friction causes rubbery materials to accumulate static charges, so anti static rubber is formulated with special additives that allow static charges to safely dissipate. Electrical Dissipation vs. Electrical Conductivity Electrical dissipative materials are not the same as electrically conductive ones. Both allow for the flow of electricity, but dissipative materials have a higher electrical resistance so that electric charges move more slowly and in a controlled manner. This prevents electrostatic discharge (ESD), the sudden flow of electricity between two electrically charged objects. ESD can occur when two objects with electrical charges come in contact, or when a charged object is near a conductive one. T62 Conductive Coating for Silicone Sponge Rubber Silicone has a high resistance to the flow of electric current. In some cases, this can result in the buildup of static charges. To combat this, Stockwell Elastomerics has developed T62 conductive coating for silicone sponge rubber. This coating is impregnated into the material and fully cross linked so that it’s conformable and complaint. Stockwell Elastomerics can apply T62 conducive coating to silicone sponge rubber sheets, fabricated parts, or gasket tape. Anti Static Rubber and Flame Resistance Anti static rubber isn’t necessarily flame retardant; however, some materials have specific flame ratings. They contain... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Engineers often compare PORON® to silicone when choosing materials for sealing, gasketing, or cushioning. In general, PORON is recommended for applications that require indoor dust sealing and soft, durable cushioning, especially when long term compression recovery is essential. Typically, silicone is recommended for outdoor applications, or when high temperature, fluid resistance, and regulatory approvals are necessary. For an in depth comparison, consider the following factors. Material Types – PORON is a microcellular urethane foam with an open cell structure. Silicone is available in solid, sponge and foam materials. Cellular silicones (silicone sponge and silicone foam) can have an open cell or closed cell structure. Compression and Cushioning – PORON is exceptionally soft and conformable. With its ultra low compression set, PORON maintains its thickness and can rebound even after many years. Cellular silicones have good rebound but typically have a higher compression set. This makes silicone better for structural seals than for cushioning, one of the main applications for PORON. Sealing Capabilities: PORON is ideal for dust and particle sealing, but it’s not as effective against liquids because of its open cell structure. Closed cell silicones seal against dust, water, and air. They can be used in IP rated enclosures. Temperature Resistance: Most grades of PORON withstand temperatures from -40°C to 90°C, but some grades can withstand high temperatures up to 120°C. Most silicones withstand temperatures from -60°C to 200°C, and some specialty grades withstand even higher temperatures. Environmental Resistance: PORON is best suited for indoor applications and is sensitive... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics can apply adhesives to rubber materials and fabricated custom gaskets. Many of these gasket materials are specialty silicone or fluorosilicone, and many silicone gaskets use a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) backing for peel-and-stick installation. These adhesive backed gaskets can promote faster and less expensive product assembly, and Stockwell Elastomerics is ready to help engineers select the best adhesive for their applications. Adhesion and Cohesion Explained When specifying adhesives for rubber materials, it’s important to understand the difference between adhesion and cohesion. Adhesion is the force of the attraction between the adhesive and the substrate. In other words, it determines how well the adhesive sticks to the gasket material. Cohesion refers to the internal strength of the adhesive instead. It determines how well the adhesive holds together once applied, and it may be for the structural integrity of the adhesive bond. Engineers don’t want adhesives that will peel off due to adhesive failure, so matching the adhesive’s chemistry to the type of rubber is critical. At the same time, engineers don’t want adhesives that will fail internally under load or temperature extremes. That’s why gaskets subjected to flexing, compression, and shear need adhesives with sufficient cohesive strength to resist cracking, tearing, or flow under mechanical stress and temperature cycling. Peel, Lap Shear, and Tensile Testing for Adhesives Peel, lap shear, and tensile tests are used to measure the strength and performance of adhesives. Peel testing measures adhesion, tensile testing measures cohesion, and lap shear testing measures both. View the... --- - Categories: Uncategorized As advanced air mobility (AAM) continues to grow, so does the demand for reliable materials in eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft design. These innovative vehicles require materials that not only meet stringent safety standards, but also maintain exceptional performance in extreme conditions. Rogers BISCO® BF-1000 silicone foam, paired with Stockwell Elastomerics precision fabrication and application engineering expertise, provides superior solutions for floor panel sealing in eVTOL interiors. Application Overview Floor panel sealing in eVTOLs plays an important role for cabin safety, structural durability, and passenger comfort. These floor panels must meet strict aerospace flammability standards, provide reliable sealing in harsh environments, and resist wear and tear over long periods of time. Material Spotlight When it comes to tackling the unique demands of eVTOL floor panel sealing, BF-1000 silicone foam is the go-to solution. This extra-soft silicone foam combines great compressibility, softness, and durability, making it ideal for critical sealing applications. Its excellent memory and low stress relaxation minimize maintenance costs by reducing gasket failures caused by compression set or material softening. With low closure force, BISCO BF-1000 produces a reliable seal with minimal compression, enabling lightweight designs and efficient assembly, both of which are important for eVTOL applications. Why Choose BISCO BF-1000 Silicone Foam? Superior Compression Set Resistance: Maintains a reliable seal under repeated compression, with a compression set of < 5% Fire Resistance: Meets FAR 25. 853 burn standards and key aerospace certifications, including Boeing BMS 1-68 and Airbus ABS5006 Durability: Engineered to endure harsh aerospace conditions,... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Quartz is a naturally occurring mineral that’s composed of silicon and oxygen. Known by the chemical formula SiO2, it’s used in electronics and computers, glass and concrete, and as an abrasive in sandblasting. Quartz is also needed for the silicones that are used in some gaskets, but in a form known as quartz gravel. These small, rounded pieces range in size from a few millimeters to a few centimeters and are mined around the world, especially overseas. Silicone Production and SiME Silicone production is a multi-step process that begins with a carbothermic reaction involving quartz gravel and carbon, typically charred wood. The metallurgical grade silicon metal (SiME) that results requires energy intensive processing, and there’s competing demand for SiME from the semiconductor, solar power, and electric vehicle industries. China produces 70% of the world’s SiME and can reduce exports to meet its own needs if internal demand rises, so the supply chain can sometimes be problematic. Now is the time for the United States to develop enough SiME refining capacity to support the production of silicones, semiconductors, and other critical technologies. However, the Critical Materials List from U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) includes “silicon”, a term that is overly broad, instead of SiME. The United States has few producers of silicon metal, of which SiME is only a subset, and their collective capacity is limited during a time of rising demand from high-growth industries. Industry Insights Bill Stockwell, the Chairman and Chief Technology Officer of Stockwell Elastomerics, has advocated... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Imagine a world where you can skip a traffic jam by flying across the city or reach a remote destination in no time. Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircrafts are bringing that future closer than ever. These innovative vehicles offer sustainable solutions for short distance travel, but they also come with challenging sealing needs similar to those in the aerospace industry. That’s where the collaboration between Rogers Corporation and Stockwell Elastomerics makes a difference. With decades of aerospace expertise and thousands of applications designed, both Rogers and Stockwell Elastomerics are trusted partners in delivering reliable, high performance solutions for mission critical applications. By combining Rogers' advanced materials with Stockwell Elastomerics' precision fabrication capabilities, we empower engineers to tackle the most demanding eVTOL sealing challenges. Sealing Applications in eVTOLs Interior Applications Floor Panel Sealing: BISCO® BF-1000 silicone foam offers fire resistance, excellent compression set resistance, and low closure force while meeting aerospace standards like FAR 25. 853. Wire and Cable Sealing: ARLON® self-fusing silicone tapes provide secure, adhesive-free sealing for wiring systems. Cargo Bin and Gap Fillers: BISCO® BF-1000/1005 ensures durability and compliance with FAR 25. 853, Boeing BMS 1-68, and Airbus ABS5006. Stockwell Elastomerics offers slit-to-width gasket tape rolls for applications like cargo bins and gap fillers where customers require flexible sizing and form for install. Bellow Seals: BISCO® MSK2 provides lightweight yet abrasion resistant sealing while meeting ABS 5026 standards. Exterior Applications Door Gaskets: BISCO HT-series silicones and SilENG kSil series offer resistance... --- - Categories: Uncategorized The future of transportation is taking off, quite literally. Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft will transform how people travel short distances, offering faster and more sustainable options. However, designing these vehicles presents complex challenges, from safety to performance demands. That is where the partnership between Rogers Corporation and Stockwell Elastomerics comes in. With decades of expertise in the aerospace and battery industries, our partnership represents trusted track records of delivering solutions that meet stringent requirements and innovation targets. By combining high-performance elastomeric materials with expert fabrication capabilities, Rogers and Stockwell Elastomerics help engineers meet the toughest challenges of AAM applications with confidence. Elastomers for Interior, Exterior, and Battery Applications in eVTOLs Our solutions that address critical challenges across all areas of eVTOL design include: 1. Materials for Interior Applications Interior systems in eVTOLs need materials that promote safety, comfort, and reliability. Some interior challenges that Rogers materials help solve are: Sealing: BISCO® silicones meet stringent standards for applications like floor panel and bellow sealing. Noise and Vibration Management: BISCO A2 reduces noise and manages vibration for a quieter armrests. BISCO MF-1 acts as sound absorption. Gap Filling and Padding: BISCO BF-1000 provides reliable solutions for cargo bin gap filling and floor carpet padding. Wire and Cable Management: DeWAL® unsintered and skived PTFE films deliver excellent dielectric insulation for wire and cable management. Adhesive Backed Products for Aerospace Interiors Slit-to-width gasket tapes made of silicone foam or sponge and acrylic or silicone adhesives can... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics now offers space grade silicone materials and fabricates space grade gaskets for spacecraft and space vehicles. These remain flexible at low temperatures and have low levels of outgassing. Stockwell Elastomerics converts space grade solid silicone sheet and can also use compression molding to manufacture space grade gaskets for satellites, rockets, telescopes, and other space applications. These materials, named SSP4716 and SSP4734-XXLV, are in stock and ready with robust certificates of analysis with data that is critical for use in space. View the Space Grade Silicone materials page for more information. Contact Stockwell Elastomerics for Space Grade Silicone For additional information about space grade silicone or to request a quote, contact the Stockwell Elastomerics Applications Engineering Team. --- - Categories: Uncategorized A recent article in Fortune Magazine titled: Why I sold my family’s century-plus-old company to my employees, Bill Stockwell offers his thoughts and motivations on how he decided to turn Stockwell Elastomerics into an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) company, and the incremental process he used to make that happen. ESOP is now part of the company's history as the ESOP started in 2017 and went to 100% employee-owned in 2024. The article is also available via Yahoo! Finance. Please contact Stockwell Elastomerics to have custom gaskets and various other products manufactured in the USA at an employee-owned factory. --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics specializes in solving gasket and cushioning pad challenges with various silicones, a group of semi-inorganic polymers with distinct properties and diverse applications. For engineers and part designers, understanding the benefits of silicone elastomers is critical for unlocking their full potential. Temperature Resistance Silicone performs well under extreme temperature conditions and maintains its properties over a wide temperature range. By contrast, many organic polymers degrade or lose their resiliency at high temperatures or elasticity at low temperatures. Chemical Resistance Silicone provides chemical resistance to moderate or oxidizing chemicals. Silicone is also chemically compatible with water and many aqueous solutions. When fluorine groups are added to the silicone polymer chain, the resulting fluorosilicone can resist non-polar solvents, acids, oils, and fuels. Flexibility and Elasticity Even at extreme temperatures, silicone is highly flexible and elastic. Its ability to stretch and return to its original shape without permanent deformation (compression set) makes them well suited for dynamic sealing and shock absorption. Durability and Longevity Unlike organic materials, silicone does not readily degrade or become brittle. It resists thermal aging, moisture, ozone, and ultraviolet (UV) light. This makes silicone a good choice for applications such as the UV resistant gaskets that are used in electrical enclosures. Electrical Insulation Silicone has a higher dielectric strength than other elastomers and is generally considered to be a better electrical insulator. Applications include dielectric barrier pads and gaskets for radome antennas and high power electronics. Versatility Modifications to the chemistry can be made to enhance many different... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics recently launched another robust technical tips page with a detailed comparison of platinum cured silicone and peroxide cured silicone. It describes the chemical curing process and results for both, including the curing mechanism, purity, cost, flexibility, biocompatibility, and thermal stability. It also outlines the advantages and disadvantages of each. Further, it discusses some typical applications and industries for each. Platinum cured silicones are often used in these and other applications: medical / healthcare, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage Peroxide cured silicones applications include: aerospace & defense, industrial, and electrical equipment. Stockwell Elastomerics offers gasketing and sealing solutions that utilize both platinum cured silicone and peroxide cured silicone materials, with extensive inventory of roll goods and sheets of various silicones for rapid prototyping. Stockwell Elastomerics also carries a variety of uncured silicone for parts requiring molding. The Applications Engineers at Stockwell Elastomerics often assist customers with selecting the best type of silicone for specific applications. Please contact the Stockwell Elastomerics Applications Engineering team to discuss options that use platinum cured silicones or peroxide cured silicone. --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics has high performance elastomers in inventory to support the rapid growth occurring in the energy sector. With many companies investing heavily in artificial intelligence (AI), the demand for safe and reliable energy sources is greater than ever before. Stockwell Elastomerics shares its home state of Pennsylvania with Three Mile Island, the infamous site of a partial nuclear meltdown of one of its two nuclear reactors in 1979. The facility closed in 2019. But, due to surging energy demands, particularly for AI, it is set to reopen for operation with a target for the year 2028. Stockwell Elastomerics has vast experience serving the energy market and is currently servicing a variety of applications. These applications include: Pads to assist in the transport of massive wind turbine blades Flame retardant gaskets to eliminate the risk of electrical fires in Southern California Metal cast seals to safety assist in the disposal of nuclear waste Whether the application requires a UL 94 V-0 rated product, specific compression force deflection (CFD) ranges, detailed material testing requirements, or clean room grade production, prototype gaskets and pads can be produced quickly to find a solution that works. Contact Stockwell Elastomerics for more information or to request a quote for high performance elastomeric gaskets and pads for use in the energy sector. --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics supports customers that require detailed testing for materials and products such as custom compression force deflection (CFD) testing. This video describes the use of the Instron Material Testing System to do in-house material testing derived from ASTM standards, including ASTM D1056. It can also do custom CFD testing on finished parts. Additional compression testing capabilities that are now available include: Lot testing Custom lamination testing CFD Testing Video https://youtu. be/sRUX1zcV0W8 View more about Stockwell Elastomerics’ material testing capabilities. Contact Stockwell Elastomerics for more information about CFD testing and to request a quote for custom gasket manufacturing services. --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics proudly serves our customers from its 3 building campus located in Northeast Philadelphia. While we often highlight our value dense materials, our vast capabilities, and our customer focused service model, today we want to highlight the community and culture that supports our employees who make our customer requirements a reality. Stockwell Elastomerics has been in business since 1919 and is a fourth generation privately-owned business that is now employee-owned via its ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan). While change is constant, the mission here is clear: provide superior service levels to our customers, create opportunities to invest and develop our workforce to enable both professional and personal growth, successfully hire team members who need a second chance, and continue operating with our close-knit community in Philadelphia. In order to achieve these goals, we have The Stockwell Way - 32 focused fundamentals that highlight our ideals for cultivating a home away from home for our employees. They range from "Be a Great Internal Customer", to "Have a Positive Attitude", to "Make Quality Personal". These fundamentals are discussed weekly at production board meetings and monthly at company-wide meetings, and a different employee writes a personal story about the fundamental which is shared company wide each week. While culture is always a work-in-progress, the fundamentals and employee ownership drive employees to not only feel a part of the team, but be one. This has resulted in an average employment tenure in production of 17 years, countless ideas for continual improvement, and people... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Here is an update on conductive pressure sensitive adhesives from Stockwell Elastomerics. Stockwell Elastomerics provides ESD rated gaskets and EMI shielding silicone gaskets for aerospace, electronics, military, and space applications. This includes carbon fillers, nickel plated graphite, silver plated aluminum, and nickel plated aluminum fillers in both silicone rubber and fluorosilicone rubber. For customers requiring a conductive adhesive backing as an assembly aid, Stockwell Elastomerics currently offers two electrically conductive pressure sensitive adhesive options. 3M 9713 – Acrylic Transfer Adhesive with Conductive Fibers This acrylic adhesive requires Stockwell Elastomerics' proprietary bonding process technology to effectively anchor onto silicone and fluorosilicone based conductive elastomers. For this reason, 9713 does not provide consistent Z-axis conductivity through the thickness of the silicone or fluorosilicone material. 9713 yields a robust bond strength to a variety of surfaces. For many applications in the ESD and EMI realm, Z-axis conductivity is not required, which makes 9713 a versatile option for many applications using conductive materials. 3M 9719 – Silicone Transfer Adhesive with Conductive Fibers This adhesive is silicone-based which cross-links directly onto silicone and fluorosilicone conductive elastomers. This allows for Z-axis conductivity through the thickness of the material. This characteristic of 3M 9719 can be crucial for thin, high frequency EMI applications, especially niche applications which are less traditional and or have extreme temperature range requirements. Many customers leverage the conductive properties of EMI and ESD silicones to create novel solutions – usually due to the elastomeric nature of the material. However, 9719 does not have... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics announces the launch of a new website featuring a bold new visual design and updated, enhanced navigation. This new website also features a new company logo and tagline, “Experts in Silicone Gasket Solutions”. The website continues to provide the strong technical information that engineers and designers need to find the right materials and products for advanced technology projects. For full details about the new website, view the online press release. Please explore the new website! Contact Stockwell Elastomerics for more information or to request a quote for custom gasket manufacturing services. --- - Categories: Uncategorized The Stockwell Elastomerics team is excited to be exhibiting at Satellite 2024. This is the premier conference and exhibition dedicated to the satellite and space industry. The conference runs March 18th to 21st, 2024, with the exhibition running from March 19th to 21st, 2024, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC. The Satellite show combines world class manufacturers with knowledge filled presentations. Visit the Satellite 2024 website to learn about the exciting list of speakers, panel discussions and exhibition. Stockwell Elastomerics has a deep focus and understanding for silicone materials with a focus on the space and satellite industry where challenging sealing, cushioning, thermal and electrically conductive applications are many. We know silicone! Our Applications and Sales Engineering teams want to meet you at the conference. We’ll be in booth 2752. Please stop by any time or you can schedule a meeting with a member of the Stockwell Elastomerics technical team while you are attending the show. If you have a particularly challenging application that you want to discuss, our experts will be available to dig into the details and work to develop a high quality custom gasket solution that meets your specific requirements ... Rapidly! We look forward to seeing you at Satellite 2024! Tom Rimel, President Phone: 215-335-3005 E-mail: trimel@stockwell. com --- - Categories: Uncategorized Fabricated gaskets, room temperature vulcanizing (RTV) gaskets, and form-in-place (FIP) gaskets can all be used to seal the spaces between mating surfaces. Each has its advantages, but there are disadvantages and tradeoffs to consider. In addition to gasket installation or application, engineers need to evaluate material and performance properties. There can also be some confusion about related terms like solid gaskets and liquid gaskets. This blog post from Stockwell Elastomerics explains what engineers need to know. Fabricated Gaskets Fabricated gaskets can be made of solid, sponge, or foam materials. Typically, these materials are elastomers like silicone, urethane foam, EPDM and other similar materials. When gaskets are fabricated from sheets, rolls, or extrusions, there isn’t a phase change from a liquid to a solid. Instead, non-liquid material is cut into a specific size and shape from roll or sheet goods. Even with sponge gaskets and foam gaskets, customers receive a product that’s fully cured in form. To provide sealing, gaskets fill the gaps between mating surfaces such as a door and a door jamb. Gasket compression is critical, but too much compression can prevent the gasket from returning to its original dimensions when this force is removed, such as when a door is opened. Typically, assembly personnel install and replace gaskets by hand. Molded or extruded gaskets may press into place over an edge, but gaskets made from sheet materials may attach with adhesives and/or fasteners instead. Benefits: Minimal setup – tool-less cutting machines are set up in minutes and making... --- - Categories: Uncategorized The silicone supply chain is much improved now compared to 2021 and 2022. There are many opportunities for future improvements from all participating companies of the silicone supply chain to better guarantee sure supply of high performance silicone rubber in all of its forms. In general, material availability is strong enough to satisfy our current customer demands. Here are select updates: Silicone rubber supply chain has normalized from an availability perspective. We believe this will continue and last throughout 2024. Stockwell Elastomerics continues to extend its investment in advanced orders to keep inventories elevated, and to maximize supply chain resources to provide the best possible service to our customers. The work that we did with many customers to evaluate alternate materials for consideration will contribute to lower supply risks in the future – although Stockwell Elastomerics still maintains its core strategy to recommend materials that are the BEST match for demanding application requirements. We are thankful for the support of our key material partners and customers during this process, and we are committed to continue to source the best/highest performance materials. Although lead times for silicone sponge and silicone foam remain extended compared to 2019 standards, industry leading suppliers continue to improve lead times, with quarterly announcements of supply improvement and lead time reduction. There are longer term structural issues in the silicone supply chain which may result in supply vs. demand pressures. Stockwell Elastomerics, and specifically its Chairman and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Bill Stockwell, with some other industry... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics was proud to host the Association for Rubber Products Manufacturers (ARPM) plant tour at its manufacturing location in Northeast Philadelphia on Thursday November 9, 2023. Stockwell Elastomerics has been an ARPM member for many years and welcomed about 30 participants from all over North America to tour the facility and to meet its staff. Various members of the Stockwell Elastomerics team made presentations to the visitors on safety, continuous improvement, strategies to support the employees, and employee ownership (since 2017, Stockwell Elastomerics has been an ESOP). Stockwell Elastomerics works with Marketplace Chaplains (mchapusa. com) to provide confidential support for all employees and their families. Marketplace Chaplains provide both spiritual and non-spiritual options to support associates as they navigate challenges and joyful events in their life. The company believes that this independent and confidential group combining with support from coworkers provides various ways to show care for the staff. Another guest speaker was Baker Industries (www. bakerindustries. org). Baker Industries is a long-time Stockwell Elastomerics partner helping to develop future employees in technical manufacturing roles. Baker Industries is a nonprofit workforce development program serving hard-to-employ adults in Philadelphia and the surrounding area by readying their team members to be strong contributors in the technical manufacturing setting. The continuous improvement (CI) presentation, delivered by Bob Walsh, the Director of CI at Stockwell Elastomerics, was a combination of sharing various tools and CI principles that the company uses, followed by sharing results from specific projects that the attendees were able to... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics continues to improve its advanced manufacturing capabilities with the purchase of a new Markforged X7 Industrial Carbon Fiber 3D printer. While Stockwell Elastomerics has been utilizing 3D printing technology for many years, this new X7 machine allows 3D printing with stronger materials at a higher quality when compared to previous capabilities. The new X7 3D printer, appropriately nicknamed Phil Amint by the Applications Engineering team, will be used to create aluminum-strength jigs, fixtures and tools out of plastic composites that are then used to manufacture gaskets, pads and other silicone parts. Markforged’s Continuous Fiber Reinforcement technology allows for continuous strands of reinforcement material such as carbon fiber, fiberglass, or Kevlar® to be printed in between layers of the part for added strength and durability. This results in strong, reliable 3D printed parts with a high level of detail and near-flawless surface finish. The built in laser micrometer enables closed-loop calibration, resulting in a highly accurate and repeatable 3D printing process that is capable of printing high fidelity, dimensionally stable components to support rapid prototyping and initial production processes. The Markforged X7 3D printer can utilize a wide range of materials, from their flagship Onyx™, Onyx FR™, and Onyx ESD™ materials (micro-carbon filled nylon) to standard PLA, TPU and nylon. These new materials, specifically Onyx, increase Stockwell Elastomerics' capabilities to prototype different manufacturing fixtures to help support customers' custom fabricated silicone part needs. In addition, this 3D printer will be used for some cutting edge R&D activities specifically for... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics is pleased to announce that after several iterations and many months of diligent work by the Rogers Corporation R&D team, Rogers has successfully reformulated BISCO® BF-1000, BISCO® HT-800 and BISCO® HT-840 silicone foam in black and gray colors. This was a required but minor tweak to the custom BISCO chemistry in order to solve severe supply chain issues that had resulted in a 40-plus week lead times. This product matches all mechanical properties, FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy), and will be UL certified as BF-1000, HT-800 and HT-840 going forward. As it is currently understood, the old formulation will be phased out and future orders will be made from the new formulation with few exceptions. Stockwell Elastomerics worked closely with Rogers and proactively placed stocking orders for the reformulated BF-1000 and HT-800. With inventory now available, Stockwell Elastomerics looks forward to working with its customers to fulfill existing orders and support new development efforts. Bisco HT-800 and Bisco HT-840 are modified closed cell silicone foams, while BF-1000 is an open cell silicone foam. They are a platinum-catalyzed, LSR-based silicone foam used in high performance applications. Stockwell Elastomerics is able to provide these silicone foams plain (without adhesive) or with a variety of acrylic or silicone adhesive backing options for use as gaskets, cushioning and damping pads, and dielectric barriers. Typical part formats include, but are not limited to: roll goods, silicone-adhesive composites, gasket tapes, multi-layer foam stackups, fabricated waterjet or adhesive-backed kiss-cut parts. Contact Stockwell Elastomerics for more... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics is excited announce the arrival of its new state-of-the-art 5-axis waterjet cutting machine. The newest addition to Stockwell Elastomerics’ arsenal of gasket manufacturing technology is a highly sophisticated, custom-built machine that further enhances the company's manufacturing capabilities. This brand new unit and the technology included are equipped with powerful features, pushing the limits of both the complexity of gasket design and the production speed. The new waterjet cutting unit is equipped with 5-axis cutting technology. The cutting head is able to pivot on an angle, enabling us to quickly and accurately produce beveled cuts. This opens up a new world of possibilities for gasket designs. The 5-axis cutting head is capable of cutting bevels of up to 30 degrees relative to the surface of the gasket. It is able to cut bevels in both the top and bottom of the gasket, all in one cycle, eliminating the need for flipping or moving the part. This enables us to cut gasket shapes and features that were not previously possible with earlier technology. The new waterjet unit also opens up the doors to greater production capacity. It boasts two cutting heads as opposed to previous machines that have just one. Each cutting head is just as powerful and accurate as the other. The two cutting heads move in tandem with each other, doubling the throughput of each production run. Also included with this unit is sophisticated part nesting software. The advanced software allows parts to be nested in the most... --- - Categories: Uncategorized The top idea from Stockwell Elastomerics first research and development event in August 2022 has passed proof of concept phase and is in qualification phase. It's focused around the company's #1 core competency – silicone bonding. More to come soon! Existing customers will be hearing about the specifics of this R&D development shortly. Contact Stockwell Elastomerics if you are not a customer but are challenged with silicone bonding applications. Something Si-O strong is coming. Stockwell Elastomerics held its second successful R&D event in February of this year at the DVIRC. Sponsored by Application Engineering and facilitated by Stockwell Elastomerics’ Director of Continuous Improvement, Bob Walsh, the event was a tremendous success. A cross-functional group, including 10+ individuals from Manufacturing Engineering, Applications Engineering, Sales, and Supply Chain Management, participated in a full day of ideation. The focus on this event was innovation of elastomeric products and co-products for our customers' most challenging applications. While exploring new ideas, Stockwell Elastomerics will continue to stay with what it’s known for: expertise in silicone gasket sealing, fabricating adhesive backed silicone foam, silicone sponge, and solid silicone sheets, liquid silicone rubber and compression molded silicone, as well as custom silicone composite products. During the February 2023 event, #2, #3 and #4 concepts from the previous R&D workshop were investigated further. Teams broke out into sub-groups for several hours and then pitched their concepts at the end of the event. The Applications Engineering Team, in partnership with the Engineering Co-op (from Drexel University), will be pulling... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics has a rich history of working with customers to solve challenging gasketing and sealing design challenges. Stockwell Elastomerics has built a strong technical customer support organization of mechanical engineers and of experienced associates in customer service, sales engineering, applications engineering, manufacturing process engineering, and leadership. With extensive knowledge and experience using high performance silicones (solid silicone, silicone foam, silicone sponge, liquid silicone rubber, high consistency rubber) and PORON® microcellular polyurethane, Stockwell Elastomerics' gasket design, prototyping and product development assistance can be a critical extension to a technology OEM's design and engineering teams. The company’s manufacturing team has more than 50 highly skilled fabricators producing precisely specified designs of both molded and converted or fabricated components. In addition to strong technical and materials capabilities, Stockwell Elastomerics has developed and continues to improve its ability to respond quickly for select customers and applications. This Rapid Response approach includes: A formal, cross functional, strategic team (Applications Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Sales Engineering, and Customer Service) that is able to expedite gasket design, quoting, sampling, test production, rapid prototyping, and early production to support customers' tight timelines. Flexible production capacity to pivot quickly in support of select customers' strategic needs. New and updated equipment - in the last 2 years, there has been a strong investment in updating and adding new computerized numerical control (CNC) driven converting machines, so now there are multiple flash cutting and waterjet cutting machines to speed up the design and the early commercialization milestones for customers. Internal... --- - Categories: Uncategorized The silicone industry, like many others, was susceptible to supply chain delays over the past couple years. As we advance into the summer of 2023, there is market stabilization and modest growth that provides an opportunity to catch up to the demands of an uncertain global market. This stabilization has allowed Stockwell Elastomerics to refocus on our core values that enabled us to serve our customers for over one hundred years. These values include creating strong partnerships with our vendors and putting inventory on the shelf so we can quickly provide an array of specification grade, FDA grade and military specification (MIL spec) materials. These principles, coupled with a strong technical engineering group, allow us to create supply redundancies for our customers. Stockwell Elastomerics has also been unwavering in our commitment to domestic sources - domestic sourcing offers greater control over quality and production processes. When businesses source domestically, they have the advantage of being able to closely monitor and manage the quality of the material and finished products. For example, our key partners provide us with access to Certificates of Analysis and Test Reports with an array of batch specific data. This allows for better quality control, faster communication, and quick resolutions to problems. As a provider of high-performance silicone materials, we pride ourselves on the materials and services provided by our domestic partners and their ability to serve key markets, including Aerospace and Defense, Medical/Healthcare, Technology and General Industrial. These partners include 3M, Rogers Corporation, Saint-Gobain, and Specialty... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics has worked continuously throughout the last year to improve service to our customers. Material availability has been a challenge. But now, key material partners have made significant improvements in availability and and lead times have shortened in the last 6 months. We have also worked to increase our internal manufacturing capacity to return to our historical service levels for both development of new products and production of proven products. Rapid Response We have focused dedicated resources to increase capacity for fast turnaround design assistance and rapid prototyping work for select applications. In late 2022 and in addition to our focused applications engineering team of 4, we expanded an internal cross functional team (5 members) to drive new programs. The Stockwell Rapid Response Team works directly with our customers to develop fully validated products to commercialization in a compressed timeline. New Manufacturing Cell Layouts We have reconfigured 2 major manufacturing cells to increase throughput in on-site manufacturing. Manufacturing team members have completed projects in the converting area as well as the material handling area. In the converting area, the teams reconfigured the cell to increase run time of the machines while decreasing the path of material flow. In the material handling area, production was moved closer to material storage to increase speed for material selection and quality inspection as the high performance silicone materials advance to the next steps in the production process. Capacity Expansion Stockwell Elastomerics completed the previously announced expansion in the liquid injection molding and compression... --- - Categories: Uncategorized The availability of silicone, fluorosilicone, and other high performance elastomers has improved since 2022, and Stockwell Elastomerics predicts continued improvement throughout the rest of 2023. We don't have a crystal ball, of course, but the last two quarters have brought relative price stability compared to the last two years. That's mainly because many of the raw material inputs that are farther up the supply chain are now more available. There are still some bottlenecks, of course, but they're typically downstream of the raw material inputs. Although there's still some tightness in the supply of some silicone grades, many suppliers are no longer formally allocating materials to North American customers. For example, Rogers Corporation is supplying more BISCO® HT-800 silicone foam and BISCO® HT-840 extra-firm silicone foam. NORSEAL® silicone foams from Saint-Gobain have decreasing lead times. Liquid silicone rubber (LSR) supply has improved dramatically compared to just 1 year ago. Lead-times are still higher than historical, but the amount available and the reliability of order arrival is improving. As a converter for these and other silicone materials, that's good news for Stockwell Elastomerics, and for our customers. Meanwhile, we're continuing to invest aggressively in inventory to keep up with customer demand. In the last year and a half, Stockwell Elastomerics has increased its inventory dollars by more than 40%. We have aggressive orders in for most common materials to keep up with forecasted customer demand. Despite these approaches, admittedly, we are still not able to meet all of our customer needs.... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics is excited to announce its recent promotion from 3M Select Converter to 3M Preferred Converter. This change acknowledges Stockwell Elastomerics' industry expertise and leadership while continuing to find innovative solutions within the 3M ™ portfolio. As a 3M Preferred Converter, Stockwell Elastomerics joins an elite group of less than 70 converters nationwide that has exclusive access to speak directly to 3M Design Engineers, takes part in customized training programs and strategically collaborates on new product releases before they’re available to the rest of the market. Stockwell Elastomerics is also granted access to the deepest discounts 3M offers their network. Stockwell Elastomerics' President Tom Rimel said it was an honor to be granted the 3M Preferred Converter status, stating: "Being recognized as a 3M Preferred Converter is a sign of our enduring and successful relationship with 3M. Together we will continue to offer quality sealing and cushioning solutions leveraging both companies’ material expertise. " 3M Account Executive Nick Mandikas was quoted saying: "3M Converter Markets is pleased to have Stockwell Elastomerics join our preferred converter network. Stockwell Elastomerics' unique converting capabilities and expertise working with a wide range of laminating adhesives and foams make this a perfect fit. " At Stockwell Elastomerics, the core competence is laminating pressure sensitive adhesives onto silicone rubber, fluorosilicone, BISCO® silicone foam, Saint-Gobain NORSEAL® silicone sponge and PORON® urethane foam. With the range of options that 3M Adhesive provides, Stockwell Elastomerics is more equipped than ever to create solutions for its customer base. For... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics converts and distributes Polymer Science P-THERM® thermal gap fillers that promote heat dissipation and support compression between surfaces where there are height variations or dimensional tolerance issues. These thermal interface materials (TIMs) from Polymer Science include PS-1541, PS-1543, and PS-2505 - three ultra-soft, silicone-based, and thermally conductive gap fillers with an embedded fiberglass support and removable polyester carrier. Applications include gap pads for EV batteries, LED and automotive lighting, infotainment modules, and computers, tablets, smartphones, and digital personal assistants. All three ultra-soft, silicone-based, thermally-conductive gap fillers provide good wet-out so that they conform to irregular surfaces and fill the air gaps between printed circuit board (PCB) components. The thermal conductivity of PS-1541, PS-1543, and PS-2505 is significantly greater than air (0. 025 W/m K) and ranges from 1 to 5 W/m K. These thermal materials also vary in terms of dielectric strength and durometer. Hardness is measured on the Shore 00 scale, which is for rubbers and gels that are very soft. The table below shows key product specifications and provides links to the data sheets. Polymer Science P-THERM Gap Fillers Gap Filler Material Hardness Thermal Conductivity ( W/m-K ) Thickness (in) Dielectric Breakdown Strength PS-1541 9 Shore 00 1. 0 . 020 - 0. 20 9. 36 kV/mm PS-1543 47 Shore 00 3. 0 . 020 - 0. 20 6. 80 kV/mm PS-2505 54 Shore 00 5. 0 . 020 - 0. 20 18. 00 kV/mm PS-1541, PS-1543, and PS-2505 have a UL 94V-0 flammability rating and... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Saint-Gobain Norseal® silicone foam is a family of flame-retardant elastomers with low toxicity and smoke generation. These cellular materials are expandable, conformable, and have a low compression set. They're non-corrosive for use with metals in hostile environments, and provide weather, ozone, UV, and fungus resistance for outdoor use. From aviation and mass transit to the automotive, electronics, construction, and furniture industries, Norseal silicone foam provides an alternative to other silicone foams available in the market. 3 Types of Silicone Foam There are three types of Norseal silicone foam: F-12, F-15 and F-20. All are available in variety of thicknesses, have a temperature range of -60°F to 400°F, and pass UL 94 V-0 and Bombardier SMP 800-C tests. F-12 passes FAR 25. 856 (A-1 and B). F-15 and F-20 pass FAR 25. 853 (12s & 60s). F-12 is typically cast 36" wide (some thicknesses 18" wide). F-15 and F-20 are available as a 36" roll only. The standard color for these silicone foams is gray; however, they're also available in white or black. Norseal Silicone Foam, Sheet Material PDF# Material Manufacturer Deflection (psi) Description 402 F-12 Saint-Gobain/Norseal 1 - 6 Extra Soft, Open Cell, Silicone Foam 404 F-15 Saint-Gobain/Norseal 6 (nominal) Soft, Open Cell, Silicone Foam 406 F-20 Saint-Gobain/Norseal 6 - 14 Medium, Modified Closed Cell, Silicone Foam Compression force deflection (CFD) values shown above are when the material is compressed 25%, per ASTM 1056. Norseal F-12 Silicone Foam Norseal F-12 silicone foam has a modified cellular structure and is a... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics continues to grow its capability in processing and fabricating high performance silicones for a wide variety of critical technical gasketing and sealing applications. The supply chain conditions in 2021 and 2022 have been difficult for a wide variety of materials including silicone and fluorosilicone elastomers. Stockwell Elastomerics has responded by continuing to invest in more inventory to try and keep pace with the requirements of customers. The company has not been able to secure all of the materials needed, but this aggressive approach to secure as much as possible continues as 2023 approaches. Partnering with key raw material suppliers, Stockwell Elastomerics has continued to expand its access to many grades of fluorosilicone. In recent years, the company has processed 115 different unique grades of fluorosilicone solid and sponge from a variety of suppliers. Currently there are select amounts of 76 different unique fluorosilicone grades in inventory. The organization is actively expanding inventory and key vendor relationships in this area. Like silicone, fluorosilicone rubber is a long-lasting elastomer that is stable and compression set resistant across temperature extremes, but unlike silicone, fluorosilicone contains trifluoropropyl groups that enhance its chemical resistance to non-polar solvents, fuels, oils, acids, and alkaline chemicals. The unique properties of fluorosilicone make it a problem-solving material that widely used in industrial, automotive, aerospace, spacecraft, and aviation applications for static sealing and cushioning. Contact a Stockwell Elastomerics Application Engineer for assistance with demanding applications and high performance device design and build. --- - Categories: Uncategorized What is Compression Force Deflection? Compression force deflection (CFD) is a common term in the rubber foam and sponge industry – it’s available on most datasheets, it has a defined ASTM testing procedure, and it is one of the best ways to characterize firmness/softness of elastomeric materials. CFD is essentially the relationship of stress and strain for a given material – the "compression" in the name refers to the type of force, and the "deflection" refers to the amount the material moves with reference to its starting value (i. e. thickness). In simple terms, compression force deflection describes how a rubber material compresses under a given force. A note on deflection: Customers can often refer to deflection as compression. We always recommend keeping the terms separate. An easy way to remember this is the following: Compression is a force, or something you DO. Deflection is a change in position, or something that HAPPENS as a result. Many engineers are familiar with stress-strain relationships; foundational courses in most engineering curriculum cover them at length! Typically stress-strain graphs look like this, and are measured in tension (not compression): Generic Stress-Strain of a Metal - By Nicoguaro - Own work, CC BY 4. 0, https://commons. wikimedia. org/w/index. php? curid=89891144 However, there is a key difference between a metal (as shown above) and a rubber material. While it may sound surprising, the metal above is elastic at the beginning of the curve – which means for much of the curve there is a linear... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Compression – it doesn’t need to be that complicated! Stockwell Elastomerics’ Applications Engineering Team demystifies compression and all its intricacies with a series of blog posts on this topic. Since Stockwell Elastomerics created a dedicated team of Applications Engineers, we’ve helped thousands of customers solve various challenges centered on things like material selection, seal design, and gasket troubleshooting. One topic that comes up quite often is the unique mechanical characteristics of silicone rubber – specifically, the “Apps” team often helps educate customers on topics related to compression phenomenon. A quick online search will reveal plenty of insightful research and academic papers written on the unique properties of silicone rubber, including compressibility and other interesting phenomenon. However, much of this works refers to silicone rubber in an uncured state. While this information is paramount in understanding how to process and manufacture silicone into molded parts, sponges, or foams, it does not provide the practical insight that many of our customers require for their applications. Stockwell Elastomerics’ customers are often concerned with how a fabricated part will behave in their application. Customers may be curious about properties such as compression force deflection (CFD), compression set, stress relaxation, or other topics. Sometimes, unique applications require very specific stress-strain profiles to provide a desired result. To help better understand compression, we are creating an ongoing blog series to explore some of the interesting and unique compression behaviors of silicone rubber. Our goal is to provide education on these topics and help relate them to... --- - Categories: Uncategorized In an effort to have readily available inventory of high performance ultra-thin silicone, Stockwell Elastomerics has developed a new product family to satisfy the demands of the advanced and emerging technology sector. The ESS4722 product family is an ultra-thin, platinum cured, solid silicone that is available in thicknesses ranging from 0. 010” to 0. 125”. This material is immediately available in 20A, 30A, and 40A durometer to satisfy the needs of low closure force applications. For identification and functional purposes, this material is available in black, off-white, and translucent. The high purity platinum catalyst delivers an exceptional ultra-thin material option for applications sensitive to volatile compounds. ESS4722 - High Purity, Ultra-Thin High, Consistency Silicone Rubber PDF# Material Color Durometer Base / Cure Description 540 ESS4722 Black 20 LSR / Platinum High Consistency Rubber (HCR), 36" wide continuous rolls, low closure force Off White 30 LSR / Platinum High Consistency Rubber (HCR), 36" wide continuous rolls, low closure force Translucent 40 LSR / Platinum High Consistency Rubber (HCR), 36" wide continuous rolls The ESS4722 solid silicone allows for IP67 level sealing capability when implemented with a well-designed housing. As a result of ESS4722's excellent compression set resistance and its capability to withstand strenuous environmental conditions, enclosures with ESS4722 sealing can expect consistent and reliable results over the lifetime of the product. Request a Free ESS4722 Sample For Evaluation Request Sample Contact a Stockwell Elastomerics Application Engineer for assistance with ESS4772 ultra-thin platinum cured silicone. --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics is well known for being an expert in silicone, silicone + acrylic adhesive lamination, elastomers, sealing design challenges, and custom elastomer gasket manufacturing. Customers in the advanced and emerging technology sector use our materials in very creative ways, often in challenging environments, pushing silicone and elastomeric materials to their limits. Stockwell Elastomerics held its first research and development brainstorming event to keep its competitive edge and industry leadership in offering some of the most advanced elastomeric gaskets, seals, and cushioning products. The half-day event in August 2022 was hosted offsite by our partners at the DVIRC (Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center). The Applications Engineering group sponsored the event, while our Continuous Improvement Director, Bob Walsh, did a spectacular job facilitating. Participants included Sales, Application Engineering, and a few cross functional team members. The next event will be held in the fall and will include additional team members and departments. Focused topics were centered around: Process/Equipment Advanced Materials New Products While we can't publicly share the creative ideas that were generated, over 130 unique ideas were documented and discussed. The team selected 12 top ideas, and presented in small groups on the top 3. The R&D Team will begin immediately on a deeper dive in research, followed by development and potential commercialization. To our customers: Keep checking our blog for new and improved product news coming soon! Feel free to contact our Applications Engineering team if you have a new project and need assistance on bringing it to fruition.... --- - Categories: Uncategorized About four years ago, Stockwell Elastomerics’ Applications Engineering team started an experiment to see the effects of different environmental factors on gasket materials. This was done by placing 37 specimens of material onto a board and placing it on the roof of the office building. While there, the materials endure extended periods under direct sunlight, rain, snow, wind, and temperatures ranging from 0°F to over 100°F. View the previous blog posts from the start of the test, one year update, and two year update. The gasket materials that are being tested represent many of the materials offered by Stockwell Elastomerics. Specimens included solid silicone, silicone sponge, silicone foam, fluorosilicone and urethane foam, along with other materials not typically offered such as neoprene and EPDM. The biggest takeaway is that even though there was significant discoloration on some samples, this is purely cosmetic and can be wiped away with water. Some materials were lost fairly quickly to the elements, while most withstood the elements very well. Here is how the materials compare after four years of exposure to the environment. Roof Test Materials before Exposure to the Elements (2018) Roof Test Materials after 4 Years of Outdoor Exposure (2022) As shown in the chart, the material swatches have endured some intense environmental surroundings. One aspect explored in this 4 year update is how much of the visible damage was permanent UV damage versus simply dirt and debris. One sample in particular, a platinum cured solid silicone, sparked this observation, as it... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Silicon Metal (SiMe) is essential to producing polydimethylsiloxane, commonly known as silicone rubber. There is no substitute. Silicon metal refining facilities in China provide roughly 70% of the global output. Most of us in the silicone rubber industry considered it plentiful. However, in September 2021, sudden energy brownouts in China severely affected refining capacity, creating supply bottlenecks. Silicon metal costs jumped by 300%. Although silicon metal production has been full throttle in recent months and costs are now down, the effects on much of the silicone rubber supply chain remains. Major silicone foam, silicone sponge and solid silicone sheet producers have had challenges catching up with demand due to the lack of silicone rubber raw materials. Gasket fabricators, like Stockwell Elastomerics, have not been able to fully support customer requirements for silicone gaskets and materials. How is silicon metal produced? The inputs to refining or smelting silicon metal are quartz sand and coke (carbon). The high temperature refining (silicon has a melting point of 2570°F) process is energy intensive – requiring approximately 13,000 kilowatt-hours per ton of silicon metal produced. The major producers have direct access to quartz mines and low cost energy. What are some of the uses of silicon metal? * 25 to 30% of silicon metal output is required to make polycrystalline silicon for the semiconductor and solar industry. 45 to 55% of silicon metal is refined for metallurgical grade silicon used to make aluminum alloys or ‘Silumin’ – lightweight and strong metal alloy for the automotive... --- - Categories: Uncategorized New liquid injection molding machinesat Stockwell Elastomerics In November 2021, Stockwell Elastomerics implemented the first phase of increasing capacity in its liquid silicone rubber (LSR) injection molding area. Phase 2 of this expansion is now completed, with all of the new equipment now installed and running. In addition to the equipment, staff has been added in production and engineering to support the new equipment. Phase 1 involved the purchase of 3 new Graco Fluid Automation F4-55 units. Phase 2 included 2 additional fluid automation units and 2 new liquid injection molding machines. Staffing additions brought in 9 new technical manufacturing team members and 4 new engineers. Stockwell Elastomerics has now significantly increased its capacity by about 20% to support strong customer demand for high performance LSR molded and fabricated components, and is considering the next capacity expansion moves. Expanded LSR molding operations at Stockwell Elastomerics See the press release announcing this molding operations expansion for more details. The company continues to recruit a variety of talent to support the expanding business – check the jobs page for openings. Get More Information or Request a Quote for Molded LSR or Liquid Silicone Rubber Injection Molding Contact a Stockwell Elastomerics Application Engineer for help with molded silicone parts, gaskets, sheets, rolls and custom liquid silicone injection molding. --- - Categories: Uncategorized Many industries need materials that can transfer heat. Broadly, this is known as thermal management. Applications can range from microelectronics, where powerful processing units require effective cooling, to heat presses that require thermally conductive silicone sponge to yield consistently superior results. Thermal grease is often used for thermal management. However, anyone who has experience will testify – thermal grease can be a nightmare to work with! This material is a spreadable liquid that has a tendency to get everywhere. It can certainly be an effective thermal management solution, but it’s often a cleanliness disaster. Further, the nature of thermal grease can make it tough to know how much to apply without plenty of experience. Thermally Conductive Gap Pad Demo The video above demonstrates the efficient thermal transfer one can gain by using a thermal "gap filler" – also take note of the ease of handling and use. Imagine performing this same demonstration with a thermal grease! These thermal gap fillers are very conformable when compressed. This means that these products will fill small voids between interfaces that can often hinder thermal performance. However, prior to compression, they maintain their shape and can be easily handled, placed, and transported Stockwell Elastomerics has a portfolio of thermal interface materials that can help alleviate the headaches of thermal grease without sacrificing the thermal performance. Thermal gap fillers such as those from Polymer Science and Saint-Gobain are superior material choices that can suit a variety of applications. See the table below and the Thermally... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Outgassing or off-gassing is a phenomenon that occurs in plastics, epoxies, rubber, adhesives, and other non-metal materials. When exposed to heat or a vacuum, material can release into the environment. This can either be from a phase change in the material or release of trapped gasses. Heat excites the material, leading to a potential phase change. A vacuum's low pressure allows the trapped gasses to overcome ambient pressure, releasing those gasses to the environment. You may have noticed this if you have ever purchased a new car or piece of furniture. The smell is from material evaporating from the newly manufactured parts (such as carpets, plastic panels, rubber components) into the air. These are known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In the industrial and technology sectors, outgassing matters for a few reasons. Sensitive electronics, optical sensors, or catalytic processing can be affected by VOCs. VOCs can actually condense and deposit onto surfaces. For example, outgassing contents can deposit onto a lens, leaving a camera inoperable. Due to these elastomers' polymeric nature, they contain many loose monomer/polymer chains that can make them susceptible to outgassing as well. How is Outgassing Measured? NASA developed the standard for testing outgassing, total mass loss (TML) and CVCM (Collected Volatile Condensable Materials), in the 1980s as part of the Shuttle Program. The standard is called ASTM-E595; see ASTM's description of ASTM-E595: Standard Test Method for Total Mass Loss and Collected Volatile Condensable Materials from Outgassing in a Vacuum Environment (astm. org) NORSEAL® R10480M (formerly COHRlastic... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics uses molding and other forms of fabrication to produce non-implants and non-critical medical devices from medical grade silicone rubber and other elastomers, including PORON® microcellular urethane foam. Non-implants are not introduced inside of the human body. Non-critical devices include those that come in contact intact skin, but do not contact mucous membranes, sterile tissue, or the vascular system. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves materials for medical use and applies test methods from the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), an independent organization, to determine the biocompatibility of elastomers. Not all elastomers meet FDA and USP standards, and some components that are used in healthcare applications may not need to meet these requirements. For medical device designers, it’s important to pick a partner who can source the needed materials and then make the components using the best manufacturing method. Stockwell Elastomerics sources quality medical materials, including FDA-approved silicones, from leading suppliers and offers injection molding, compression molding, die cutting or waterjet cutting, and other manufacturing services. FDA-Approved Silicones and Medical Elastomers USP testing methods are divided into six numbered classes. Stockwell Elastomerics sources FDA-approved silicones that meet the requirements of USP Class VI, the most stringent class. These materials are platinum-cured for purity and, unlike peroxide-cured silicones, do not generate organic acids. They also withstand gamma irradiation, autoclaving, and ethylene oxide (ETO) sterilization with minimal effect on material properties. In addition, Stockwell Elastomerics fabricates components for medical electronics that provide shielding against electromagnetic interference (EMI)... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics is on the cutting edge of gasket engineering and silicone engineering. Technologies such as waterjet cutters, flash cutters, die cutting, molding, and proprietary lamination put the company at the forefront of the custom gasket manufacturing industry, serving technologically advanced customers who need the best in silicone manufacturing. As aerospace, defense, and other technology companies are trying to tackle problems more complex than ever, Stockwell Elastomerics has pushed more time and budget into R&D technologies and material characterization, allowing us to serve our customers. A new Ultimaker 3D printer was brought into the company a few years ago, allowing the Applications Engineering and Manufacturing teams to quickly develop fixtures and assembly aids. Complex geometries of new parts, new fabrication techniques, and faster solutions to manufacturing problems have become more common in the shop as these teams have relied on this technology to support new and existing projects. Instron Material Testing System at Stockwell ElastomericsSince May 11, 2021, over 100 tools have been 3D-printed to support both the Fabrication Shop and the Mold Shop, ranging from inspection gages for quality control to manufacturing jigs and assemblies for constructing parts. Parts and assemblies are able to be completed faster, and therefore arrive in the customer’s hands sooner. A new tensile and compression tester from Instron has greatly increased in-house testing capabilities. The new machine, with a max force output roughly ten times greater than the previous force tester, now allows Stockwell Elastomerics to do in-house testing and complete test methods derived... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics is continually building capabilities to deliver unmatched responsiveness for designers of technology equipment and OEMs requiring silicone rubber gaskets and silicone cushioning pads to perform in temperature extremes and meet requirements for product ruggedization. As a technical materials company, Stockwell Elastomerics has remained flexible as many technology sector OEMs have taken global/regional manufacturing approaches based on optimized labor costs and an efficient regional distribution. Stockwell Elastomerics made a strategic decision to remain headquartered in the USA and maintain its base of manufacturing exclusively in Philadelphia, PA, USA. Its Rapid Response approach was built so that gaskets and cushioning materials could be swiftly supplied internationally to a customer base numbering more than 2500 strong. A strategic inventory program, a rapid sampling and prototype process, and a dedicated Applications Engineering department were developed to ensure that the company could support the global operations of its technology sector customers. More specifically, the Rapid Response model was implemented to develop engineered prototypes faster than international competitors. Stockwell Elastomerics built a new dedicated logistics and packaging facility on the same campus to ensure that products could be quickly shipped anywhere in the world. These approaches enable the company to be an integral part of its customers’ strategies as they expand globally. Many customers continue to embrace this global/regional approach and the company remains committed to servicing this demand. There are some changing trends with regard to manufacturing location selection of high performance products in the technology sector. Stockwell Elastomerics is building capacity and... --- - Categories: Uncategorized One of 3 new Graco Fluid Automation F4-55 units at Stockwell Elastomerics Stockwell Elastomerics is pleased to announce the arrival and installation of 3 new Graco Fluid Automation F4-55 units for liquid silicone rubber (LSR). In addition to these new units in phase 1 of this equipment expansion, several new liquid injection molding machines are on order for phase 2. Stockwell Elastomerics has experienced heavy demand for a range of products in the past 18 months, and the focus of support is on current customer partners to provide high performance LSR molded and fabricated products for applications in technology and defense sectors. This new equipment will support current customers by: Expanding the readiness of the support equipment feeding the liquid silicone rubber injection molding operations. These new units will increase reliability and uptime and allow upgrades to current equipment without negatively impacting available capacity. Dedicating support equipment for select raw material inputs. Modernizing equipment and improving process control while minimizing change management impacts - these Graco units are fully qualified with current validated process. This capital investment ensures continued process capability including a variety of colors, durometers, and types of liquid silicone resins. The supply chain challenges in 2021 have required that operations continue to decrease the average campaign size to optimize service to customers. Key Technical Features of the Graco Fluid Automation Equipment: Hydraulic free pumping to ensure a smaller footprint and lower contamination levels Stainless steel construction (white room and clean room capable) Closed loop processing system –... --- - Categories: Uncategorized The business environment has forever been changed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Companies are quickly adapting hybrid and remote work structures throughout their organizations. These changes have made it difficult for our technical sales and applications engineering teams to effectively connect with customers on a personal level to solve challenges and foster business relationships. At Stockwell Elastomerics, we value the importance of keeping our relationships with customers, supplier partners and industry manufacturers. As our technical sales team begins to increase traditional business travel, we would like to remind our customers of the alternatives to in-person meetings that we have available. Conference calls are an excellent alternative to in-person meetings and offer real-time, rapid response feedback to move your project forward, especially when there are critical time constraints. To aid in design and drawing reviews, we are capable of scheduling video conferences via Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Skype. These programs allow our sales engineers, application engineers, manufacturing engineers, and customer service representatives to use real-time screen sharing, to interact and collaborate with customers on material selection, gasket design assistance and rapid prototyping. Working closely with our customers, we can create tailored virtual educational events (e. g. Lunch-N-Learn meetings) to highlight specific topics of interest to your technical groups. These events often focus on a specific project, industry uses, or general materials. Recent events included silicone supply chain review, EMI material applications and thermal management material review. Contact your Stockwell Elastomerics representative today to set up a conference call, video meeting or virtual... --- - Categories: Uncategorized At Stockwell Elastomerics, engineering co-ops from Drexel University tackle R&D, manufacturing, and design challenges every day. During their six-month tenure, co-ops become an integral part of the team, interfacing with customers, suppliers, production, sales, and leadership to accomplish important projects. They work closely with all facets of the company, a broad role that enables them to get experience with many types of work and find areas where they can thrive. The manufacturing facility contains equipment for waterjet cutting, flash cutting, die cutting, lamination, and molding. Co-ops get a wide variety of machine and operations training, allowing them to better grasp and address production challenges, as well as understand the limits of design manufacturability. They also get a chance to hone their design skills by creating CAD drawings/3D models, and working with customers on design changes. Co-ops create production aids and fixtures using a 3D printer, enabling them to solve problems on the fly. Several members of the Stockwell Elastomerics team are Drexel alumni, attending Drexel long before the company started its co-op program. These more senior members have had their own past co-ops and careers, serving as helpful guides to their younger counterparts. According to Ben Conroy, current co-op and a senior at Drexel University:As a co-op at Stockwell Elastomerics, I gained experience in process development, 3D design, technical writing, manufacturing optimization, and materials science. The workdays flew by in the blend of doing office work and on the shop floor getting my hands dirty developing new products. The small... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Electrically conductive silicones combine the best of silicone's properties, such as temperature stability, UV resistance, and elastomeric waterproofing, with electrical conductivity for ESD, EMI, and RFI protection. These materials are compounded with conductive fillers such as carbon or metal particles to create an electrical path through the silicone. Stockwell Elastomerics' SE65-CON is an electrically conductive silicone rubber that provides this combination of environmental and electrostatic discharge protection ideal for shielding electronics and electrical devices. It is available in flat stock, cut gasket, and compression molded form. View SE65-CON datasheet (PDF) for technical details on this material. SE65-CON and other high performance conductive silicones can be supplied with either acrylic or silicone conductive adhesives thanks to Stockwell Elastomerics' proprietary lamination process. 3M 9713 conductive acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) provides a strong tack for the most rigorous requirements, while also enabling an electrical path through the Z-axis. 3M 9719 conductive silicone PSA allows the highest level of conductivity through to the housing, but due to the nature of silicone adhesives, it lacks some of the strength of an acrylic bond. To determine the particular differences between these material and conductive adhesive combinations and to support customers' needs, Stockwell Elastomerics' engineering team has launched an investigation into the Z-axis conductivity of these materials. This test measures the resistance through the material and its adhesives both in the time shortly after application and after the adhesive has wetted out into the material and its bond surface. To add to the experiment and gauge... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics is known for its readily available inventory of high performance silicone foam. While supply chain challenges persist for the near term, Stockwell Elastomerics is positioned to support its customers in the silicone foam market. Rogers Corporation and Saint-Gobain manufacture high performance, platinum cured silicone foam. Although their products have some minor differences, all of them provide the unique benefits of silicone foam. Rogers' BISCO® and Saint-Gobain's NORSEAL® silicone foam product families are described in more detail on the silicone foam materials page. Silicone foams are offered in different firmness values, cell structures, and densities. These details may be important to create a robust seal for each specific application. Technical data sheets with more specific are available on the silicone foam datasheets page. BISCO HT-800 and NORSEAL F-20 are great where water sealing is required (typically IP66 range). NORSEAL F-12, BISCO BF-1000, BISCO HT-870 are considered open cell structure. They can handle splashing but are better for applications that don’t require rigorous water sealing. These include thermal management, dust, splashing, etc. The chart below compares many of the soft to medium firmness silicone foams. Silicone Foam Comparison F-12 BF-1000 HT-870 F-20 HT-800 Cell Structure OPEN OPEN OPEN CLOSED CLOSED Finish Fine Texture 1-side Smooth 1-side Smooth 2-sides Smooth 2-sides Smooth 2-sides Smooth 2-sides Compression Force Deflection1 (Typical) 1-6 3. 0 1-5 2. 4 1-7 4 6-14 10 6-14 10 Compression Set2 (Typical) 5. 0 1. 7 1. 6 60 90 60 80 Tensile Strength4 25 >20 30 30 45... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics combines the talents of our people, our unique manufacturing processes, the commitment and expertise of our raw material partners, and our proprietary silicone elastomer bonding / molding / converting / finishing processes to satisfy our customers every day. As we navigate the unique business environments that 2020 and 2021 have brought, we continue to enhance our focus on employee engagement. We know that it is the employees that ultimately deliver the best sealing and cushioning solutions to our customers. We have held many events during the past year to ensure a positive and focused team spirit: Monthly company communication meetings (virtual and in-person) Focus groups to talk about succession planning and recruiting the next generation Cross functional implementation team to install a new piece of capital equipment Continuing the established process of awarding a monthly "MVP" award to recognize outstanding support of our customers Ensuring a safe workplace during the pandemic – communicating and working together We are also heavily investing in the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) culture that started in 2017. What better way to optimize employee engagement than to make the employees owners of the business? The Stockwell Elastomerics Perpetuity ESOP Trust will expand its ownership stake in 2021. As a result, the employees, via the trust, will own a greater percentage of the company than when the ESOP was originally established. This is another great reason to want to work at Stockwell Elastomerics. There is a dedicated team that continues to build the ownership... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Silicone sponge has a reputation: it is known as a high performance, chemical resistant, low compression set, and low and high temperature resistant elastomer. One lesser known property of silicone is its inherent electrical insulation. Customers that perform testing on sensitive electronics, however, are quite familiar with this behavior of silicone. Plain silicone has a tendency to allow for static build-up which can discharge and damage expensive equipment, pose a safety risk, or interfere with testing. This phenomenon is known as electrostatic discharge (ESD). This undesirable effect (in some applications) motivated Stockwell Elastomerics to develop its T62 conductive surface coating process, resulting in a line of closed cell silicone sponge products with conductive coating for ESD protection. This process impregnates the silicone material with conductive material that, once cured, becomes integral to the composition of the silicone sponge – there is no change to compressibility, resilience, or other mechanical properties. View the video demonstration below. The table below shows the 3 standard grades of conductive coated sponge. A technical data sheet (PDF) is also available. These products provide a wide range of firmness values that are suitable for many different uses. Beyond the 3 standard products, custom configurations can also be created to meet specific application requirements. Silicone Sponges with ESD Conductive Coatings Material Name Grade Force Deflection (PSI)1 Compression Set, % Max2 Surface Resistivity3 Available Thickness S480‑62‑CON Soft 2-7 5 2. 0 x 104 . 093" to 1. 0" S470‑62‑CON Medium 6-14 25 2. 0 x 104 . 032"... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics has developed the capability to laminate 3M9667MP acrylic adhesive onto ultra thin Rogers BISCO® HT-6000 series silicone rubber, used to manufacture ultra-thin gaskets. The HT-6000 series is liquid silicone rubber, cast as thin as . 010" and . 020" thick – this is considered too thin and stretchy for conventional adhesive lamination processes. Utilizing its proprietary laminating processes, Stockwell Elastomerics laminates . 002” thick 3M9667MP onto these thin silicone materials for display gaskets and sealing gaskets for designers of ruggedized portable devices. Stockwell Elastomerics developed this capability and selected 9667MP adhesive from 3M™ for its performance properties and high bond strength on most substrates found in ruggedized portable equipment. Ultra-thin gaskets are offered with . 002 inch thick 3M-9667 MP200 series acrylic adhesive with a 78# moisture proof release liner for ease of liner removal and handling during assembly. Alternative low surface energy acrylic or ultra-high temp silicone adhesives can also be laminated based on specific project needs. Gaskets can often be the last part specified in a product design. The ability to cut parts from premade rolls of material allows for rapid manufacturing of parts to meet last minute production or lab certification/testing needs. HT-6210, HT-6220, HT-6135, and HT-6240 are cast, 2 part platinum cured methyl silicone. They are very pure products because of the platinum catalyzed reaction. Additionally, there are no by-products unlike some other elastomers. HT-6000 series silicones provide all the benefits of silicone in a thin, compression set resistant (under 5% in some cases),... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Compression set and stress relaxation are two terms that come up in conversations with customers regarding different applications of materials offered by Stockwell Elastomerics. These terms refer to compression phenomena that occur in elastomeric materials. While there are correlations between the two, it is important to understand each phenomenon and how it relates to material performance. Compression Set / Compression Set Resistance Compression set is a measurement of a material's tendency to retain compression deflection after force is removed. This measurement is in terms of displacement, or strain – a silicone foam like BISCO® HT-800 has a listed compression set % of 2. 4. In simple terms, this means that HT-800 tends to recover 97. 6% of whatever distance it is compressed. It is easy to confuse compression set for a measurement of stress retained – this is incorrect. Compression set only refers to the amount of displacement, also known as strain, retained once compression force is removed. The amount of stress retained in a material while compressed is an entirely different phenomenon known as stress relaxation. It is important not to rely only on the datasheet values for compression set when evaluating materials. The compression set value listed on elastomer datasheets reflects results from an ASTM standard that dictates fairly extreme conditions. The compression set data found on material datasheets is most useful for comparison between materials – the datasheet values are great to identify materials that are better at resisting compression set than others, but in actual applications,... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Our team from Stockwell Elastomerics, supported by the City of Philadelphia and our neighbor Lannett Company, completed an Earth Day event targeted at cleaning up part of Tolbut Street in Philadelphia where our company is located. Earth Day April 22, 2021, themed "Restore Our Earth, presented some weather challenges, so the event was rescheduled for May 12, 2021, reaffirming that every day is Earth Day. Stockwell Elastomerics is a 100+ year old technical manufacturing firm with strong ties to the city of Philadelphia. We were eager to band together with the city and the company next door to play a part in support of Mother Earth. 17 employees of our employees, led by organizers Elizabeth Gorman and Sandy Greenhalgh, removed more than 500 pounds of trash and debris from the 4700 block of Tolbut Street. We worked together to clean up our street and the surrounding area as effectively as we work together to manufacture high performance elastomer products. After the event, we joined together for some fun and a meal. Our group of volunteers is already looking forward to another event later this year as well as starting the planning for Earth Day 2021, on April 22, 2022. Things to Think About in Support of Our Planet (adapted from "The Old Farmer's Almanac") Support our Pollinators Clean Up Plant a Tree Use Wildflowers and Native Plants Conserve Water Think About Your Diet and Decrease Food Waste Get Kids Involved - Tom Rimel, President, Stockwell Elastomerics --- - Categories: Uncategorized The A-A 59588 Class 1A/B specification was created to cover 6 classes of solid silicone rubber in various grades. Methyl-vinyl silicone (VMQ) is an excellent low-temperature elastomer, capable of staying flexible at temperatures as low as -100F. This makes it a go-to gasket and cushioning material for extreme environments. However, there are additional specifications and applications that require even lower temperatures. A-A 59588 Class 1A is specific for low temperature resistance while Class 1B is specified for low temperature resistance and low compression set. Methyl phenyl silicones (PVMQ, PMQ) are formulated for these low temperature applications. In some cases, phenyl silicone can remain flexible at temperatures of -130F. ASTM D 2137 (as part of A-A 59588) is a pass/fail on impact brittle point of the materials, tested to -70C (-103F). Stockwell Elastomerics now offers several different durometers and thicknesses of methyl phenyl silicone. They are available as roll stock solid silicones in grades 40-80A durometer that can be die-cut or water jet cut. We can apply low temperature silicone adhesive for assembly aids. We also offer custom compression molded parts. Typically they are peroxide catalyzed, though we offer a platinum cured low outgassing version too. Methyl phenyl silicone is ideal for use with connectors for cables and sealing for spacecraft and aerospace markets as well as for exposure to cryogenic liquids. Mechanical engineers need silicones with high flex-fatigue resistance for door seals, window seals, and vibration-isolating mounts. They also need crack-resistant silicones for engine mounts and exhaust hangers. Electrical engineers... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics has invested heavily in problem solving, in rapid prototyping /manufacturing capability, and in a wide selection of stocked high performance materials and silicone rubber. We are well positioned to support our customers from a technical (problem solving) perspective with our deep technical knowledge, accessible through our sales and applications engineers. We are structured to respond quickly via systematically vetted technical solutions with the ability to move quickly into prototyping and commercialization. Key to how we support our customers is the silicone material supply chain. The pandemic has had direct and indirect impacts that have, in turn, stressed the supply chain. In response to the changing conditions within the supply chain, we are increasing our investment in material inventory. As the global economy expands after an unpredictable 2020, we are seeing changes to the following areas: Lead times for high performance materials have increased 2-7 times from levels at the end of 2020 Changes in circulation of containers and in goods movements have exposed labor and logistics shortages in transportation Changes in raw material pricing, increases between 3 and 30 percent have been announced in some markets with the trend expected to continue through 2021 Historically high demand for select materials Our core business is silicone rubber. We have always believed that we can best serve our customers by having materials available in stock for development and quick conversion. Our best customers and strategic partners have recognized and benefited from that strategy. In times of supply chain uncertainty, this... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics offers many different materials for customers to use for gaskets, pads, and other components, with a core competence in using silicone for many applications. The types of silicone typically used are solid silicone, sponge silicone or silicone foam. Here’s a short guide on choosing between the three types of silicone rubber: silicone sponge, silicone foam, and solid silicone. What is the Difference Between Solid Silicone, Silicone Sponge and Silicone Foam? The most obvious difference is the cell structure of these three different silicone materials, as shown in these photos. Solid Silicone Notice there is no visible cell structure, only solid silicone material. Silicone Sponge This picture shows the closed cell structure of the silicone sponge material. Silicone Foam This picture shows the open cell structure of the silicone foam material. Most foams are open cell or "modified closed cell". Foam, Sponge, Solid Silicone foam (gray, top), silicone sponge (brown, middle), and solid silicone (red-orange, bottom) are pictured. Note the difference between the open cell foam (gray), closed cell sponge (brown), and solid (red-orange) structures. Seal Rating One easy and obvious way to determine which material will work best for an application is the seal rating that is needed. If a seal rating of IP67 or higher is required, then solid silicone in the best choice. The cell structures of both sponges and foams make it more challenging to meet the IP67 rating and testing is always recommended to confirm sealing capabilities. Compression Solid materials offer the best sealing... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Rogers Arlon® Silicone Technologies, an industry leader in silicone elastomers, has broadened its product portfolio with the addition of closed cell silicone sponge. This economically priced general purpose gasketing material is now available as part of Stockwell Elastomerics' product portfolio. This Arlon closed cell silicone sponge is a great fit for many applications because of: High and low temperature ranges UV and ozone resistance Consistent thickness tolerances The available grades are soft density, medium density, firm density and extra firm density. This product line also boasts consistent roll sizes, and four color options – black, gray, white and the standard red. This silicone sponge is certified to AMS 3195 and made in the USA. It has attractive lead times and available inventory for sampling. View the Rogers Arlon data sheet for detailed technical information. Stockwell Elastomerics is a Rogers Corporation Preferred Converter. Get More Information or Request a Quote for Arlon Closed Cell Silicone Sponge Gaskets Contact a Stockwell Elastomerics Application Engineer for help with gaskets made with Arlon from Rogers Corporation. ARLON® is a registered trademark of Rogers Corporation. --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics has recently added two new EMI gasket materials: SNAF-572, a nickel-coated aluminum particle filled fluorosilicone and SNA-568, a nickel-coated aluminum particle filled silicone. Both of these gasket materials are electrically conductive nickel-coated aluminum particle filled (aka nickel-aluminum) materials with superior galvanic corrosion resistance. Typical EMI elastomers often contain silver or graphite filler. These fillers can often cause corrosion when used in some corrosive environments, such as salt water. Nickel-aluminum filled elastomers provide proven resistance to this, lending to better long term EMI performance in typical application environments. SNAF-572's fluorosilicone rubber base polymer also provides enhanced resistance to swelling and deterioration when in contact with oils, fuels and fluids used in aviation. These materials are commonly specified in aerospace marine applications to ensure long term survivability and performance. These compounds were developed by Specialty Silicone Products, Inc. (SSP), and are available to end-users through Stockwell Elastomerics as die cut gaskets, waterjet cut gaskets, and compression molded gaskets. These nickel-aluminum filled gasket materials are dark-gray and have a smooth surface in comparison to nickel-graphite filled elastomers. SNA-568 was tested for galvanic corrosion according to ASTM B117 for saltwater spray. Additional testing data is readily available based on access to SSP's development team and their rigorous testing, including the results from their third party testing data. Another benefit of these materials is long term cost stability. Recently, the price of silver has been quite volatile and continues to follow an upward trend. This will likely lead to an instability of silver-filled... --- - Categories: Uncategorized 2020 has been a tumultuous year for the world dealing with the coronavirus. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many lives and every place of work. When the pandemic hit in March, Stockwell Elastomerics had to make many adjustments, with many office staff working from home and adjustments to the production team working on site. Assorted parts for medical equipment used in COVID-19 response As an essential business, Stockwell Elastomerics mobilized available resources to support important existing medical customers as well as new initiatives related to the COVID-19 response. Most of these were guided by the government-supported nationwide manufacturing of critical equipment like ventilators, personal protective equipment (PPE), and other important medical equipment. In March and April there were so many unknowns and fears about hospital capacity, ventilator shortages, and general anxiety over an emerging disease. At Stockwell Elastomerics, the efforts to manufacture components used to fight this contagion provided a purpose and motivation - helping make the medical equipment that was used in the response. Before the pandemic, Stockwell Elastomerics manufactured a variety of parts that were used in different ventilators and medical diagnostic equipment. As the pandemic worsened, production had to be ramped up to support the exponential growth in demand for medical equipment. Additionally, new inquiries came in that allowed Stockwell Elastomerics to lend a hand in creating products such as neck drapes and intubation barriers. Stockwell Elastomerics' rapid response model was challenged during this time – with a thinned-out staff and high volume of production, everyone had... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Applying adhesives to silicone elastomers can be a challenge on some high performance gaskets. Stockwell Elastomerics has considerable expertise with this process with over 30 years of experience. Silicone (also known as polysiloxane) is a unique semi-inorganic polymer. Its chemistry is what gives this elastomer some remarkable properties, including resistance to heat, electrical current, moisture, UV light, oxidation, and many other conditions that degrade polymers. Because of its chemistry, it also has very low inter-molecular interaction and surface energy. Surface energy is the measure of how attracted a material’s molecules are to each other and to other materials' molecules, a property that is very important in bonding materials together with adhesive. In general, the higher the surface energy, the stronger the bond. Stockwell Elastomerics has proprietary expertise in applying acrylic adhesive onto silicone materials, including silicone foam, silicone sponge, and solid silicone, along with fluorosilicone. This allows engineers to use silicone for its high performance, while also being able to use acrylic adhesive for its relatively long shelf life, high performance, and low cost. Acrylic adhesives tend to provide better performance than silicone adhesives (for temperatures under 350°F), while having the added benefit of being significantly lower cost. More on the topic of applying acrylic adhesives to silicone, along with information about using silicone adhesives and combination adhesives, can be read in the updated blog post from 2010: Silicone Rubber and Pressure Sensitive Adhesives – Silicone Adhesive, Acrylic Adhesive or Combination Adhesive (3M 9731) – Which is Best? / Contact... --- - Categories: Uncategorized About two years ago, Stockwell Elastomerics’ Applications Engineering team began a sun, weather, and age test of 37 different gasket materials attached to a board and placed on the roof of the main office building. (View the blog post about the start of that test and the post about the results after one year. ) The materials endured temperatures ranging from below freezing to over 100°F, high winds, and precipitation including rain, snow, and sleet. The experiment tested samples of advanced materials such as silicone sponge, silicone foam, solid silicone, fluorosilicone and PORON® microcellular urethane foam, along with other polymers such as neoprene (polychloroprene), EPDM (ethylene propylene di-monomer), ECH (epichlorohydrin) and SBR (styrene-butadiene rubber). Here is how the materials are compare after two years of exposure to the environment. Roof Test Materials before Exposure to the Elements (2018) Roof Test Materials after 2 Years of Outdoor Exposure (2020) Some of the materials performed far better than others when subject to the same conditions. Silicone materials, such as HT-6240 and R10470M, saw much less deterioration from UV exposure and weather than polyurethane foams like Poron. The neoprene and blended sponges, such as 4119-N and 4022 OCS, fared the worst as they were lost or destroyed over the course of the test. The graphic below demonstrates how each material held up after two years of exposure to the environment. This experiment helps demonstrate how long term exposure to the UV, weather, and varying temperatures affect different gasket materials. The materials have performed... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics became involved with Drexel University’s engineering co-op program about one year ago. Via this program, undergraduate engineering students have the opportunity to develop skills that will benefit them for the rest of their college career and professional career. Drexel University has a strong cooperative education, or co-op, program. It is different than an ordinary internship because it is an integral part of Drexel’s structure and curriculum. Drexel students can have up to three different co-op experiences, each lasting six months, totaling a year and a half of job experience before they graduate. Stockwell Elastomerics employs quite a few Drexel alumni who went through the co-op program themselves, but did not start employing Drexel co-ops until spring 2019. So far there have been three students who have co-oped at Stockwell: Eric, Jorge, and Laura. The students who co-op at Stockwell Elastomerics learn the design and production process, lean manufacturing, and have the opportunity to enhance their technical skills. What Do Co-ops Learn at Stockwell Elastomerics? One of the waterjet cutting machines at Stockwell Elastomerics that co-ops learn to operate. Stockwell Elastomerics' manufacturing facility makes it possible to see the entire engineering process from design through to production. Manufacturing and production capabilities include: waterjet cutting, die cutting, laminating, silicone injection molding, compression molding and transfer molding. Co-ops get training in many of these operations and use quality inspection equipment such as a universal force tester and vision measurement machine. Hands-on experience is emphasized because learning the capabilities and limits of... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Today's press release: Silicone Sponge and Silicone Foam Gasket Tape with DP-1001 Silicone Adhesive is Now Available from Stockwell Elastomerics announces these new offerings - closed cell silicone sponge and silicone foam adhesive-backed gasket tape with DP-1001 polyimide film supported silicone adhesive backing in slit to width rolls for use in extreme conditions. Materials for these new gasket tape products include R10470-M closed cell silicone sponge, BF-1000 and HT-800 silicone foam. Need more information about gasket tape from Stockwell Elastomerics? Gasket Tape Products Gasket Tape Touch Brochure and Samples Gasket Tape / Strip Gasket Technical Data Then contact Stockwell Elastomerics to request a quote. --- - Categories: Uncategorized There are many critical applications that require good sealing from gaskets. However, sometimes seals fail. When they do it is good practice to understand why they failed so a better seal can be designed in the future for the application. Outlined below are the top 5 reasons why seals fail and how to overcome these failures. Chemical Swell What it looks like: The gasket is larger in volume than it was when installed. Sometimes this is confined to one area of the seal making it look as though it has a lump. Why it failed: This chemical swell is caused by the incompatibility between the elastomer and the environment it is exposed to. Examples include exposure to: jet fuel, bleach, even vegetable oil may cause swelling in some elastomeric materials. This swelling can lead to loss of physical properties like tensile strength. How to fix it: Switch the material you are using in this application. Fluorosilicone is a very inert material and can stand up to many different kinds of chemicals like jet fuel. Compression Set What it looks like: The gasket has a permanent deformation. The gasket has taken the shape of the housing it was installed into and does not go back to its manufactured shape upon load removal. Why it failed: There could be a few reasons why this seal failed. The material could be over compressed, the environment may be causing chemical swell and thus over compression and mechanical property failure, or the elastomer could have... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics is aware of discontinuations to certain Gore® EMI shielding materials, including Gore's GS2100, GS5200, and GS8000. Many different applications over a wide breadth of industries had utilized these now-obsolete materials for components. Applications included military, aerospace, and various ruggedized portable electronic devices such as scanners, readers, phones, computers, radios, GPS, wireless equipment and testing equipment. These materials had uses ranging from EMI gaskets to connector gaskets and grounding pads. Trying to find suitable equivalent materials can be a daunting task. Stockwell Elastomerics has demonstrated expertise and experience when it comes to EMI gasketing material, and we can help when selecting a suitable replacement material. Stockwell Elastomerics carries materials that can serve as replacements for these Gore materials: Edit Gore Product:GS2100GS5200 Stockwell Replacement:SNE-540-UL94 V0SNE-560-UL94 V0 Key CharacteristicsSimilar Durometer: SNE-540-UL94V0 (40A) vs. GS2100 (45A)Identical Durometer: SNE-560-UL94V0 (60A) vs. GS5200 (60A) Robust EMI Shielding CapabilitiesRobust EMI Shielding Capabilities Meets Low Outgassing per ASTM E595Meets Low Outgassing per ASTM E595 UL94 V0 Flame RatedUL94 V0 Flame Rated However, choosing a replacement material is not always as straightforward as finding the same product with a different name. Every application is unique – this is where Stockwell Elastomerics' Applications Engineers can assist in material selection by helping to identify critical application characteristics and use these to guide the process. Some applications may need better sealing, galvanic corrosion resistance, or a UL 94V-0 flame rating. Stockwell Elastomerics has a wide variety of EMI shielding materials to choose from to help customers find effective and quick... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics announces a partnership with Polymer Science as a converter and distributor of their P-THERM® thermal management materials. Stockwell Elastomerics now offers several P-THERM® Silicone Gap Fillers from Polymer Science, including PS-2505 (5. 0 W/m-K), PS-1543 (3. 0 W/m-K), and PS-1541 (1. 0 W/m-K) gap fillers; some semi-low compression set gap fillers and some ultra-soft gap fillers are also offered. Polymer Science's gap fillers are manufactured in continuous length, 18' wide. Continuous length opens up options to different cutting techniques and provides excellent material yield. Polymer Science products are made in the USA, offering a robust supply chain for quick order turn-around. As a supply chain partner, Stockwell Elastomerics maintains inventory of standard thicknesses for quick order turnaround and smaller minimum order quantities. Standard thicknesses include the following: 0. 5mm, 1. 0mm, 1. 5mm, 2. 0mm and 3. 0mm. Other thicknesses may be available upon request. For more information or to request a quote for P-THERM® gap fillers from Polymer Science, please call Stockwell Elastomerics at 215-335-3005 or complete a contact form for assistance. P-THERM® is a registered trademark of Polymer Science, Inc. --- - Categories: Uncategorized Designing an effective seal or o-ring is important for many applications like environmental seals that need to keep out water in outdoor weather conditions that might see a variety of wetness and temperature conditions. There are 3 key considerations for designing a good seal: Cross sectional "squeeze" Gland fill Material selection for seal and gland Squeeze Squeeze is defined as the amount of compression the gasket experiences. If there is no compression, the seal is not energized and liquid, air, or dust can flow right past the seal. On the other hand, a seal that is over-compressed can lead to failure of the seal – including protrusion, nibbling, taking a compression set or catastrophically failing. General guidelines: for a static application and a solid rubber, the seal should be compressed 20-25%. Whereas to achieve a good seal with a sponge or foam elastomer in a static application, compression should be 50-60%. Squeeze can be calculated by: Gland Fill Gland fill is the measure of total seal volume in the gland when the seal is compressed. It is measured as a percentage of the total volume of the gland. Ideally, for a static application the gland fill should be 85-90% filled where as a dynamic application should be lower at an 80-85% fill. Gland fill can be calculated as follows: Material Selection There are many different materials to choose from when designing a seal. Silicone materials have some key properties that make it an excellent selection for seals, including: Excellent weathering... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics announces a new touch brochure - SSP4749 / Platinum Cured HCR Silicone Touch Brochure is now available. This tactile brochure has 7 samples of SSP4749 materials, ranging from 10 durometer to 70 durometer. SSP4749 high performance silicone rubber is a unique high consistency rubber (HCR) that is platinum cured. Applications for SSP4749 include: • Medical devices (non-implant) to meet USP Class VI • Food contact uses that need to meet FDA CFR 21 177. 2600 • Applications that may have sensitivities to outgassing or leaching Request a Free SSP4749 / Platinum Cured HCR Silicone Touch Brochure Includes small samples of SSP4749 materials to touch and feel. Request Brochure View the online press release announcing this SSP4749 touch brochure. The SSP4749 / Platinum Cured HCR Silicone Touch Brochure can be requested online; there is no charge for this tactile brochure. For applications assistance or more information about platinum cured silicone / high consistency rubber (HCR), please call Stockwell Elastomerics at 215-335-3005 or complete a contact form. --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics now offers Dow’s XIAMETER™ RBL-9591-50 liquid silicone rubber (LSR), a 50-durometer, moldable compound with low compression set that is certified to UL 94V-0, a strong flame rating for this type of material. For electronics systems where fire is a significant risk, using materials with a sufficient flame rating is of high importance. Often these applications require gaskets that meet specifications outlined by the Underwriter Laboratories (UL). One of these specs, UL 94V-0, is an aggressive flame rating that is widely required in high-performance applications ranging from aerospace to phone receivers, household ovens, and almost anything else with an electrical system. UL 94V-0 refers to a vertical burn test and requires burning to cease after 10 seconds with no flaming "drips" allowed. Dow’s XIAMETER™ RBL-9591-50 Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) (view XIAMETER™ RBL-9591-50 data sheet PDF) is a 50-durometer, moldable compound with low compression set certified to UL 94V-0. Stockwell Elastomerics' in-house LSR molding capabilities make this material a desirable solution when part geometry, tolerances, or quantities are better suited in a molded part. In addition, Stockwell Elastomerics' silicone sheet molding capabilities allow for quick prototype turnaround for material qualification by waterjet cutting from in-house molded sheet stock. This allows a seamless transition using the same materials for prototype and production. In addition to XIAMETER™ RBL-9591-50, Stockwell Elastomerics also carries Rogers' HT-6360 65-durometer cast LSR (view HT-6360 data sheet PDF), available in roll stock, for when molding capabilities are not required. This solid silicone is also certified to UL 94V-0... --- - Categories: Uncategorized A whitepaper entitled "Gasket Tape - Silicone Sponge and Silicone Foam for Long Lasting Sealing Performance" is now available for immediate download: Free Whitepaper: Gasket Tape – Silicone Sponge and Silicone Foam for Long Term Sealing Performance (PDF for immediate dowload) This gasket tape whitepaper discusses silicone product options that will last and perform for the entire anticipated life of the electrical equipment including those installed in outdoor conditions in the harshest environments. Get Gasket Tape Whitepaper PDF Now - Immediate Download This gasket tape whitepaper was announced in this press release. The Gasket Tape page on the website has more information about Stockwell Elastomerics' gasket tape offerings, along with a demonstration video. A complimentary touch brochure and small sample roll is also available to request. --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics' silicone gasket tape is demonstrated in this video, including adhesive-backed silicone sponge and silicone foam gasketing. This video shows the difference between open cell silicone foam (BF-1000), closed cell silicone foam (HT-800) and closed cell silicone sponge and how they are used to make gasket tape. The benefits of and differences between unsupported acrylic transfer film adhesives and film supported adhesives are demonstrated. Custom gasket tape with DP-1001 polyimide film supported silicone adhesive and other custom combinations are mentioned, as well as the availability of a free gasket tape touch brochure for handy reference. Gasket Tape Demonstration Video Get more information on the Stockwell Elastomerics web pages about gasket tape: Gasket Tape Products Gasket Tape Touch Brochure Gasket Tape / Strip Gasket Technical Data Then contact Stockwell Elastomerics to request a quote. --- - Categories: Uncategorized On Friday, October 11, 2019, over 100 people gathered at Stockwell Elastomerics to celebrate its 100th year anniversary. Attendees included staff, family, suppliers, customers and friends. The highlight of the evening was Bill Stockwell's talk about the company. He provided a detailed history starting with how his great grandfather started the company as the Stockwell Rubber Company in 1919 from his garage, and how his grandfather, great uncle, and father led the company until he became President in 1980. Bill also described some of current opportunities as Stockwell Elastomerics continues to grow and adapt. Congratulations to Stockwell Elastomerics on its 100th year! --- - Categories: Uncategorized Frederick Elbridge Stockwell (left) Stockwell Elastomerics, Inc. is a fourth generation, privately held business that was founded in 1919 by Frederick Elbridge Stockwell (shown in the photo on the left). Frederick was a salesman for the Boston Woven Hose and Rubber Company covering the Philadelphia territory. He decided to make a go of it with his own business – and we are grateful he took the risk. The business began as Stockwell Rubber Company, Incorporated, a distributor of belting, hose, sheet rubber packing and wholesale rubber products – literally started from Frederick’s garage in Palmyra, New Jersey in August 1919. In 1920, Stockwell Rubber Company moved into an office and warehouse facility on 6th and Arch Streets in downtown Philadelphia. Read more of the company history, or contact Contact Stockwell Elastomerics for further assistance. --- - Categories: Uncategorized About a year ago, Stockwell Elastomerics started a test on a variety of materials on the roof of the main office building in Philadelphia, PA. (View the blog post about the start of that test. ) The experiment tested 37 samples of rubber polymers, including SBR (styrene-butadiene rubber), neoprene (polychloroprene), EPDM (ethylene propylene di-monomer), ECH (epichlorohydrin), PORON® microcellular urethane foam, silicone sponge, silicone foam, solid silicone and fluorosilicone. The wide-ranging climate of the area means that these materials saw temperatures ranging from 5°F to 100°F, precipitation totaling 65. 3 inches (including snow), and winds as high as 60 mph (source: NOAA). The tested solid silicone (right) is slightly discolored but otherwise undamaged after 1 year of exposure As predicted last year, the silicone-based materials were mostly unaffected by this year-long exposure, experiencing little change in size or thickness, no cracking, and minor discoloration that was primarily the result of dirt building up on the samples. This is in part due to the chemical structure of silicone elastomers. An inorganic backbone increases resistance to other chemicals, so silicone-based materials do not degrade the way seemingly similar materials do. In addition, the high bond strength between silicone and oxygen at an atomic level makes silicone elastomers highly resistant to both heat and UV exposure. Poron materials cracked, shrunk, and lost their surface sheen after 1 year of exposure Other polymers did not fare as well, however, including Poron and blended sponge. While Poron and other urethane foams are excellent gasket materials for... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics is known for supplying elastomeric gaskets with adhesive backings. Customers will choose, often with our engineering assistance, an acrylic or silicone adhesive and elastomer combination for their gasket based on specific material and adhesive properties. What is often not considered is the release liner that is supplied with the adhesive backing. We take a holistic approach to the parts we're supplying our customers. We help recommend an adhesive based on the application environment, housing material, and assembly process. We often assist in selecting the release liner for the adhesive-backed gasket. The decision on liner type can be based on a few factors. One factor could be matching the backing to the manufacturing processes at Stockwell Elastomerics – picking the right liner for die-cutting or water jet cutting. The release liner may also be selected to help the customer in their assembly process. This could be for a more dimensionally stable part, for ease of peeling off the liner, ease of assembly in a tricky situation, or all of the above. The right release liner on an adhesive backed gasket can reduce customer cost by improving handling during assembly. Nothing is more frustrating than having the right elastomer and adhesive backing specified, but not being able to peel the liner off. Secondary Release Liner for Easy Peel Foam Adhesive Backed Gaskets Video Demo Additionally, Stockwell Elastomerics can provide secondary liners and low tack adhesives that can be applied to the face of a gasket that do not permanently adhere... --- - Categories: Uncategorized At a recent Design-2-Part manufacturing trade show, Bill Stockwell gives an overview of the products and services offered by Stockwell Elastomerics. If interested in learning more about any of these offerings, contact Stockwell Elastomerics Application Engineer for assistance. --- - Categories: Uncategorized Since 2017 the silicone rubber industry has seen supply shortages caused by a global net reduction in silicone monomer capacity. Facilities producing siloxane (D4), a base material component for electronic and industrial silicone compounds, experienced unexpected downtime while global demand was increasing in 2017 and 2018. Tightening Chinese environmental regulations forced some feedstock facilities to shutdown to meet air quality regulations. A facility closed in Europe and a November 2016 strike at a US facility contributed to the disruptions. A sluggish period from May 2015 through December 2016 appeared to discourage investment in silicone production capacity. Then polysiloxane demand grew quickly and outpaced global capacity – causing the largest silicone gum and resin providers such as Dow Corning, Wacker and Momentive to restrict production and place most customers on allocation. Stockwell Elastomerics is fortunate to have had a supply agreement with Wacker Silicones that supported most of our demand for liquid silicone rubber for injection molded components in 2018. Although we remain on allocation through mid-2019, we have learned that some additional LSR capacity will come on-stream and will allow us to keep up with increasing demand in our custom molding business. The supply chain for gum base silicone elastomers presents a different situation. Gum base silicone rubber is used to produce most of the closed cell silicone sponge rubber and solid silicone sheets and roll goods. The major producers of silicone sheet materials continue having challenges getting enough raw compound to keep up with demand. This has resulted in... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Photo by Chris Sweeney, Rubber & Plastics News Rubber and Plastics News, a leading industry journal, has named Bill Stockwell, CEO of Stockwell Elastomerics, as their Rubber Industry Executive of the Year. According to R&P News:The business sense and hands-on attitude ... are a few of the reasons why Stockwell was chosen as the Rubber & Plastics News 2018 Rubber Industry Executive of the Year. Read the entire Executive of the Year announcement at R&P News. --- - Categories: Uncategorized Aircraft mechanic repairing jet engine Fluorosilicone, also called fluorosilicone rubber or FVMQ, is a problem-solving material for tough engineering challenges. Fluorosilicone's inherent resistance to non-polar solvents, fuels, and oils at temperatures between -70°F and 450°F is critical for materials in modern engine turbos, airplanes, and rockets. Sometimes fluorosilicone can be difficult for engineers and designers to practically access in moderate quantities due to its limited commercial availability. Stockwell Elastomerics understands that large order minimums and long lead times can make it difficult for engineers to utilize fluorosilicone, which may be the best material choice for their application, and strives to break down those barriers. With the introduction of Stockwell Elastomerics' SSP4773 High Performance Fluorosilicone, this is no longer the case anymore. Stockwell Elastomerics has partnered with Specialty Silicone Products to bring Mil-DTL-25988C military grade fluorosilicone rubber to the market, available in standard durometer and thickness with a low order minimum. Designers and engineers can contact Stockwell Elastomerics for material selection assistance with a variety of elastomers, including fluorosilicone and the new SSP4773. --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics was featured in an article in Rubber & Plastics News on September 4, 2018: "Stockwell expands footprint, prepares ESOP transition". President Bill Stockwell was interviewed for this piece about the new additional building that recently opened, and the ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) that was put in place last year. --- - Categories: Uncategorized Interior of GTEM cell and probe for electromagnetic compatibility testing EMI gaskets can be a big advantage when trying to protect an enclosure from both environmental and electrical ingress. However, the design of EMI gaskets can be a difficult challenge for electrical and mechanical engineers alike. Making an incorrect decision leads to expensive parts that are at risk of failure. There are four major topics to consider when searching for a solution: Design of the assembly Environmental sealing EMI shielding Estimated annual production quantities Along with the material selection, the design of the assembly is one of the biggest factors of the enclosure's ability to seal. The inherent size, stiffness, flatness and compression mechanisms of the enclosure play a major role in the material options. For example, a sheet metal cabinet with latches may require soft and thick combination gaskets due to the materials forgiving nature, while a machined alloy enclosure with bolts can enjoy the robust sealing of a hard solid rubber-like SNE-540. Clearly defining what the gasket needs to keep out is another vital input when considering solutions. Using the IP or NEMA scale is a good way to communicate whether you're trying to keep out dust, rain or 10' of water. Different classes of materials have inherent strengths. For example, while Condux Plus makes a great dust gasket touchscreen, it wouldn't help with water ingress. Declaring the concerning frequency range, and how many decibels of energy must be attenuated, is often the most difficult metric to quantify... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Dan Shanahan, Marc Ebiri and Alex Santayana with Weather Testing Board Philadelphia Roof Top - Sun, Weather and Age Testing of Gasket Materials Gaskets are frequently used in outdoor enclosures and potentially exposed to sunlight. So we wanted to run an experiment with side-by-side testing of a variety of materials including: SBR (styrene-butadiene rubber), neoprene (polychloroprene), EPDM (ethylene propylene di-monomer), ECH (epichlorohydrin), PORON® microcellular urethane foam, silicone foam, silicone sponge, solid silicone and fluorosilicone. 37 samples of various gasket materials mounted and tagged on a board that was placed on the roof of our facility. We will be checking these during the summer for the effects of sunlight aging, which may show up as surface cracking, shrinking or discoloration. We also retained control samples of each material for comparison. Our summer intern, Marc Ebiri, will be helping with the evaluation of the samples on the weather aging board, along with gasket immersion testing and other projects. We think silicone rubber will outperform the other categories. Look for a follow-up blog post here after the experiment is finished. --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics has a long history of fabricating battery pads from microcellular polyurethane such as PORON® and silicone foams such as BISCO®. The Elastomerics Blog first touched on battery compartment pads in 2011, but since then, advancements in lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery technology make the topic of battery pads worth revisiting. Today's light and powerful lithium batteries have changed the way we live, and are used in everything from handheld electronics to, electric vehicles (EV). Unfortunately, if not designed correctly, this useful source of power can become a dangerous source of destruction. Examples of battery pad applications include: Aerial drones Mining vehicles Portable instrumentation Ground support vehicles Golf carts Electric vehicles Medical devices Forklifts Cell phones Handheld electronics Auxiliary power supplies Power tools Of the three primary lithium cell types (prismatic, pouch and cylindrical), the soft-bodied pouch style is becoming the most popular because of its highly efficient packaging. However, these customizable batteries have an important design consideration that should not be overlooked - the change in battery volume by 5-10% due to swelling. Restricted batteries without room to expand can become damaged and result in a potentially spectacular failure. Li-ion battery pads provide more than just compliance to swelling cells; they also provide mechanical support while protecting against shock, vibration, and thermal runaway. Using a Li pouch cell pad can even improve charging performance because a light force against a pouch battery helps improve contact of internal layers. Providing a compressible foam cushion for the battery is at first glance... --- - Categories: Uncategorized When designing radomes (also called radar domes) or other types of signal transmitting antennas, engineers must pay close attention to the electrical properties of the materials used in and around those assemblies. The electrical characteristics of a material can be used to enhance an antenna design, whereas failure to account for these lesser-known factors can have catastrophic consequences. Unique properties like the inorganic chemistry of silicone rubber make it an ideal candidate for use in critical antenna assemblies, and this is one of the reasons engineers specify silicone. Products like R10480S are soft, and conformable so they can seal out rain and salt water on a composite radar dome which can be flexible and wavy. Low-density foams such as MF1 are lightweight and long-lasting, so they make good spacers and insulators without contributing a risk of shedding or contamination. A silicone thermal gap pad like TC3008 can be used to help transfer heat away from a high powered amplifier or power supplier. Some cutting-edge designs take advantage of these flexible materials to tune or bend signals, and this allows for more compact packaging - an advantage when aerodynamics, weight or space is important. In this type of application, the lesser known electrical properties of materials become more critical and must be understood. Dielectric constant and loss tangent are two key material properties that are important as inputs during the simulation and design phase of an antenna assembly. Both of these properties describe how an electromagnetic wave transmits through a medium... --- - Categories: Uncategorized . 200” thick TC2006 thermally conductive gap filler pads, kiss cut against protective liner ThermaCool® TC2006 and ThermaCool® TC3008 thermally conductive gap filler materials are inherently tacky. When thermal gap filler pads are cut from these silicone gel base materials using water jet cutting and die cutting processes, our experience indicates they need to stacked and separated to prevent the tacky edges from sticking together. However, this secondary procedure adds cost and additional handling. Stockwell Elastomerics invested in a digital flash cutter to complement its water jet cutting and die cutting capabilities. The high speed knife blade can be programmed to kiss cut thermal gap filler pads from . 020” to . 250” thick against a protective release liner. However, the high speed digital knife cutting process reduces edge tackiness, allowing thermal pads to be provided on a sheet with a material saving common line cutting patch. TC2006 and TC3008 thermal gap filler pads can be provided with minimal edge waste, without the secondary stacking and edge separation process. Thermal gap filler pads are available in . 020” thick to . 250” thick. These pads are provided with a protective release liner on both sides that is removed during assembly. TC2006 Thermal Gap Filler (datasheet PDF) has a good balance between thermal conductivity (1. 6 W/m-K) and less compressive force. TC3008 Thermal Gap Filler (datasheet PDF) provides higher thermal conductivity (3. 0 W/m-K) with slightly firmer compressive force. Note: Ultra-soft ThermaCool® TC3006 (1. 1 W/m-K) and Bergquist Gap Pad® V0... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Closed cell silicone sponge rubber is non-conductive, having a volume resistivity of 1 x 1014, test technicians and electrical engineers would typically want to keep this away from static sensitive test procedures. However, the broad temperature capability of closed cell silicone sponge, from -80°F to 400°F make it the ideal gasket product for sealing out air and humidity in environmental test chambers and integrated circuit test and handling equipment. Other ESD foam products do not have the excellent compression set properties of high performance silicone sponge products like R10480-S (less than 10%). Nor will other ESD foam products perform over the broad temperature range of closed cell silicone sponge. Stockwell Elastomerics is offering test strips of . 250” thick x . 500” wide soft closed cell sponge for evaluation. Half of the length is plain (orange) and the other half has our electrically conductive ESD grounding which is cross-linked into the surface to withstand moderate wear, deflection and long term aging under compression. The difference can be seen with an ohmmeter or multimeter, as demonstrated in this video: Contact Stockwell Elastomerics for further assistance with materials for ESD protection, and ESD protection products such as conductive grounding pads (Conpads™), ESD gaskets and pads. --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics Molding Operations First Shift Crew October is employee stock ownership month. And Stockwell Elastomerics is pleased to announce its new ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan). I made this announcement in a series of employee meetings earlier this October. Until now, the business was 100% owned by the family; now the employees will be beneficiaries of the new Stockwell Elastomerics Perpetuity Employee Stock Ownership Trust. Why use the word Perpetuity? Perpetuity and Sustainability are my goals for the business and stakeholders of the business, including employees, customers, vendors and the neighboring community. Stockwell Elastomerics is a 4th generation privately held manufacturing business, founded in 1919. Our roots are deep in Philadelphia, and many of our 80 employees, including management, professional engineering staff and production staff live in the city. We are proud to be a successful Urban Manufacturing business. I hope that even more employees now take even more interest in the details of the business. Especially in a custom manufacturing business, it's the little things that add up to providing great customer support and consistently high quality. I hope this ESOP builds even more engagement now and many decades into the future. - Bill Stockwell President Stockwell Elastomerics, Inc. --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics is helping the industry that is redefining vehicle travel for the 21st century by supporting autonomous vehicle development with precision custom gaskets. Manned and unmanned self-driving vehicles contain an elaborate system of cameras and sensors, combined with sophisticated operational software which relies on OTA updates. These vehicles operate in outdoor conditions exposed to rain, snow and UV light, so it is vital that these sensor systems are protected. High performance silicone elastomers from Stockwell Elastomerics are currently being used by the industry for environmental sealing, thermal management and EMI shielding. Stockwell Elastomerics supplies materials that help designers meet IP water seal ratings as well as UL 94 flame ratings. Electrically conductive silicone products for EMI shielding such as SNE-540 and SNE-556 nickel graphite silicone are in stock. These EMI materials can become a vital component to ensure operational success with respect to data transfer. Technical data about materials for EMI gaskets and silicone gaskets is available via these links: EMI – nickel/graphite filled silicone HT-800 flame rated environmental seal (PDF) Thermal management – Gap Fillers and Gap Pads For more information or request a prototype, please call Stockwell Elastomerics at 215-335-3005 or complete a contact form for assistance. --- - Categories: Uncategorized Today we broke ground on an additional facility that will increase our capacity to store more of the "core" materials required to support our production and rapid response service model. These materials include silicone foam, closed cell silicone sponge, solid silicone sheets and PORON® microcellular urethane foam. From left to right: Bob Walsh, Plant Manager, Chris Moore, Material Handler, Jay Hough, Process and Production Engineer, Bill Stockwell (holding shovel), President, Sandy Ratcliffe, Controller and Treasurer, Jeff Groner, Material Handler, Jennifer Nunez, Shipper, Keith Bossert, Fabrication Production Manager. Over the past few years we experienced situations where we were running out of room. Production was competing for space against floor space allotted for raw material storage. The expansion will allow for more efficient storage and contribute to increasing production floor space. Furthermore, the new building is being designed to include a second floor mezzanine for additional offices, work areas and meeting rooms. We were fortunate to be able to purchase some adjacent land from a neighboring business. This allows us to remain in our same location and add the additional building. Since we are located in Philadelphia, there were plenty of regulatory matters to resolve prior to breaking ground. We look forward to getting into the new facility and increasing inventory levels to "fill the wagon" and to support the needs of our customers. We anticipate moving in to this new building by the end of March 2018. --- - Categories: Uncategorized Electrically conductive foams such as Condux Plus™ from Rogers Corporation can be used to solve design challenges in electronic assemblies and are used by engineers to solve tough electrical shielding and grounding issues. Previously, due to high minimum quantities, these useful materials tended to be unavailable unless production builds were in the millions. In response to this issue, Stockwell Elastomerics now stocks soft, . 020" thick, electrically conductive Condux Plus™ material. Condux Plus™ can now be provided in cut to size fabricated gaskets and pads with low production quantities and quick-turn deliveries, this allows for a new electrically conductive material solution for designers and engineers with North American based industrial, medical, lighting, and handheld electronics markets. Condux Plus™ is a conformable, gap filling microcellular urethane with excellent rebound, cushioning and compression set resistance. This material exhibits XYZ conductivity and over 50 decibels of shielding between the 300MHz and 10GHz range. Condux Plus™ can be compressed over 50% with minimal force. These qualities make the material useful where assembly tolerances, vibrations, thermal expansion, and shock can make shielding and grounding a nightmare. Stockwell Elastomerics can supply this electrically conductive gap filling foam, kiss cut, with an electrically conductive acrylic adhesive backing, making it easy to handle and potentially less expensive than mechanical fastening methods used for metal alternates. Contact Stockwell Elastomerics with a design challenge and a team of applications and manufacturing engineers will work to develop a solution tailored to the application. --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics serves the medical diagnostics devices industry, producing silicone gaskets and cushioning pads that meet the mechanical and other application requirements. Stockwell Elastomerics manufactures gaskets and components for medical device applications that are non-implant and in an area of the device where there is no exchange of blood or bodily fluids using medical grade silicone rubber. Please view Stockwell Elastomerics' Support for the Medical Device Industry statement regarding fabricated and molded gaskets and related articles used in medical equipment. Offerings for the medical device industry include: Custom compression molded silicone gaskets Injection molded liquid silicone rubber (LSR) components with high performance flexing capabilities for mechanical requirements inside the device Fabricated silicone foam gaskets PORON® cushioning pads Electrically conductive components such as EMI shielding gaskets ESD grounding gaskets and pads Check out the web pages Medical Diagnostics Devices Applications for Silicone Gaskets and Cushioning Pads and Medical Grade Silicone Rubber and for more detailed information about these medical gasket and pad offerings. Please call Stockwell Elastomerics at 215-335-3005 or complete a contact form to make an inquiry. --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics serves the electric vehicles (EVs) industry, producing gaskets and sealing solutions that meet or exceed regulatory requirements. EVs include consumer vehicles along with fleet vehicles like tow tugs at airports, terminal tractors and terminal trucks that move marine shipping containers and warehouse forklifts. Charging stations and battery management systems are often located outdoors with exposure to rain, snow and ice; indoor charging stations usually need to be protected against dust. In particular, the UL 2202 standard titled "Standard for Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging System Equipment" is a leading standard for EV charging systems. Stockwell Elastomerics often uses the following materials for electric vehicle charging stations sealing solutions: HT-800 flame-rated silicone foam R-10480S soft closed cell silicone sponge EC-2130 flame-rated EMI gasket material PORON flame-rated polyurethane foam Check out the web page Gaskets and Sealing Solutions for EV Charging Stations for more detailed information about these gasket and sealing offerings. Please call Stockwell Elastomerics at 215-335-3005 or complete a contact form to make an inquiry. --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics is now a leading manufacturer of enclosure gaskets for solar inverters and has a new website page highlighting its capabilities in this relatively new renewable energy industry application. To support these efforts for this industry, Stockwell Elastomerics recently teamed up with Rogers Corporation to create a comprehensive touch brochure with physical samples of 10 high performance gasket materials for solar inverter enclosures. This tactile brochure is available at no charge - request one now. The types of solar inverter enclosure gaskets offered include: Micro inverter gaskets String inverter gaskets Central inverter gaskets Silicone materials are most often the best choice of materials for solar inverter enclosure gaskets. Offering include: Soft closed Closed cell Low durometer (soft) solid silicone Silicone gasket tape This press release titled Samples of Gasket Materials for Solar Inverters and Enclosures for Energy Monitoring are Now Available on a Touch Brochure from Stockwell Elastomerics announces its availability. For more information on enclosure gaskets for solar inverters, please call Stockwell Elastomerics at 215-335-3005 or complete a contact form for assistance. Request a complimentary Solar Inverter Gasket Materials Touch Brochure for material samples. --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics manufactures custom gaskets from a variety of high performance rubber materials; the majority of fabricated parts are provided with an adhesive backing. The adhesive backing on gaskets provides several benefits - one key benefit is the aiding in assembly and increased throughput. Smaller gaskets or pads can be kiss-cut on a roll as shown below - this allows assemblers to peel the part off of the liner and quickly install without fussing with the liner. Certain parts are unable to be kiss-cut for various reasons; in these cases they are individually cut, requiring the assembler to remove the liner from each gasket. Certain cutting processes can make it difficult to remove the liner from the gasket. To address this, Stockwell Elastomerics offers easy release secondary liners. Stockwell Elastomerics' easy release liners greatly improve assembly throughput and assembler frustration. In some cases parts can be damaged from assemblers trying to pick the liner off. Stockwell Elastomerics proactively provides these easy release liners to help ensure customer satisfaction. Below is a video that illustrates the advantage of using easy release liners from Stockwell Elastomerics. The video also demonstrates how to remove pressure sensitive adhesive liners from soft foam materials. Secondary Release Liner for Easy Peel Foam Adhesive Backed Gaskets Demo For more information about easy peeling liners for foam gaskets, silicone foam gaskets with adhesive or PORON foam with adhesive, please call Stockwell Elastomerics at 215-335-3005 or complete a contact form for assistance. --- - Categories: Uncategorized Stockwell Elastomerics holds inventory of high temperature, flame retardant silicone foam used by turnout gear manufacturers for padding and cushioning. Turnout gear foam padding is sold in sheets or pre-cut shapes. Custom cutting silicone foam and closed cell silicone sponge can be done without investing in tooling; Stockwell Elastomerics offers tool-less flash cutter (CNC oscillating knife) and waterjet cutting requiring no tooling and fast cut pads. HT-800 Silicone Foam Burn Test Video HT-800 and HT-820 flame rated silicone foam are high temperature foams that resist burning, they are UL 94V-0 (vertical burn test) rated. HT-800 medium firmness silicone foam is highlighted in the video below. HT-800 exhibits surface cracking but does not burn through nor catch fire. There are silicone foam options in the HT-800 family. FPC flame block material is a heavily filled flame blocking silicone rubber with a reinforced backing. FPC silicone fire block was specifically design to resist burn through. FPC flame block is often used for industrial applications to protect components during a fire. The reinforced layer allows stitching of FPC. R-10400 closed cell silicone sponge is a slightly tougher and higher temperature silicone that has similar burn resistance as HT-800 and HT-820 foams. R-10400 flame rated silicone rubber is also available in sheets or custom cut parts. Another benefit of silicone foam and silicone rubber materials is their ability to remain flexible at sub-zero temperatures - this means the turnout gear pads offer cushioning even in extreme cold weather. For more information on turnout gear... --- ---