How do cure time and temperature affect silicone tubing performance?

Cure conditions determine the degree of crosslinking, which in turn controls essentially all of the tubing’s functional properties. Under-cure leaves the network incomplete: the tubing has low tensile strength, deforms easily under load, may have a tacky surface, and retains a higher probability of internal voids. Over-cure drives the reaction past the optimal crosslink density into a regime where chain scission competes with crosslinking: the result is a harder, more brittle material with reduced elasticity, and in transparent tubing, a tendency toward slight yellowing. The target cure window produces the best combination of tensile strength, elasticity, chemical resistance, and dimensional stability. The relationship between temperature and cure rate follows Arrhenius kinetics: rate approximately doubles for every 10°C increase in temperature, which makes temperature control more critical than time in determining the cure outcome. Ruixiang fixes cure temperature and time parameters for each product line and maintains process records within the ISO 13485:2016 traceability system.

For product specifications, technical data sheets, or sample requests, contact the Ruixiang team: olivia@dgruixiang.com  |  www.medicalsiliconetube.com