Question

Is silicon rubber flammable?

Answer 1

Hint:Silicon rubber is an elastomer, which is also a synthetic rubber. It is mainly used in industries, and consists of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen.

Complete step-by-step answer:In order to answer our question, we need to learn about rubbers and some of their properties. Natural rubber is a natural polymer and also termed as elastomer. It is manufactured from rubber latex which is a colloidal dispersion of rubber in water. The latex is obtained from bark of rubber trees. Natural rubber may be considered as a linear hydrocarbon polymer of isoprene. Isoprene is a monomer of natural rubber. Natural rubber is a linear 1, 4-addition polymer of 2-methyl-1, 3-butadiene. All the double bonds in natural rubber are cis, so natural rubber is also called as cis-1, 4-polyisoprene. The cis-polyisoprene molecule is held together by weak van der Waal interactions and has a coiled structure. Thus it exhibits elastic properties.
Natural rubber becomes soft and sticky at high temperatures. Its tensile strength is low and elasticity is maintained over a low temperature. It is soluble in non-polar solvent. A process of vulcanisation is carried out to improve these physical properties. The Vulcanisation process consists of heating a mixture of natural rubber with sulphur at a temperature range between 373 K to 415 K. After this process, sulphur forms cross links at the reactive sites of double bonds and thus rubber becomes hard and more flexible. In the manufacture of tyre rubber, 5% of sulphur is used as a cross-linking agent.
Silicon rubber is synthetic rubber and is not flammable. It has excellent flame resistance.

Note:Synthetic rubber is vulcanizable rubber which is capable of getting stretched to twice of length. When the external stretching force is released then it returns to its original shape and size.