Reprographic & Microfluidic Silicone Elastomers
| Product Code | Mix Ratio | Color, Mixed | Tensile Strength (MPa) | Elongation (%) | Durometer (A) | Feature | Viscosity Mixed (cSt) | Specific Gravity | Cure Time/Temp | Potlife (hr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gelest RG01 (PP2-RG01) | 10:1 | Clear | 5.5-7.0 | 80-100 | 45-60 | Standard | 3,500-4,000 | 1.04 | 4h/80 °C | 12 |
| Gelest RG02 (PP2-RG02) | 10:1 | Translucent | 2-4 | 80-100 | 35-45 | Oleophilic | 3,000-4,000 | 1.04 | 4h/80 °C | 12 |
| Gelest RG03 (PP2-RG03) | 4:1 | Translucent | 3.5-6.0 | 200-400 | 30-50 | Hydrophilic | 3,000-7,500 | 1.04 | 4h/100 °C | 12 |
| Gelest RG04 (PP2-RG04) | 10:1 | Translucent | 1.5-2.0 | 150-200 | 25-30 | Oleophobic | 30,000-35,000 | 1.36 | 4h/80 °C | 6 |
| Gelest RG05 (PP2-RG05) | 10:1 | Clear | 5.5-7.0 | 80-100 | 45-60 | Low volitales | 3,500-5,000 | 1.04 | 4h/80 °C | 12 |
| Gelest cPDMS (PP2-RG06) | 10:1 | Clear | 6-7 | 100-200 | 40-50 | Overcoatable | 3,500-4,500 | 1.02 | 4h/80 °C | 4 |
| Gelest hPDMS (PP2-RG07) | 1:1 | Clear | 0.5-0.75 | 30-40 | 60-70 | High modulus | 500-700 | 0.98 | 4h/80 °C | 4 |
| Gelest sPDMS (PP2-RG08) | 100:1 | Clear | 5.5-7.0 | 80-100 | 45-60 | Spin-coatable | 1-2 | 0.71 | 4h/80 °C | 12 |
| Gelest TC01 (PP2-TC01) | 1:1 | Gray | 4.14 | 125 | 66 | Thermally Conductive | 50,000 | 2.14 | 4h/100 °C | 16 |
Gelest® RG 01 2-Part Reprographic Silicone Elastomer (10:1 kit) PP2-RG01
Description: Gelest® RG 01 is a flexible, high definition clear molding and encapsulation compound. The moderate viscosity of the catalyzed mix and long pot-life at room temperature make this extremely versatile for a broad range of applications.
Uncured Properties:
- viscosity (10:1) catalyzed: 3,500-4,500 cSt
- viscosity Part A (base): 5,000-5,500 cSt
- viscosity Part B (crosslinker): 50-75 cSt
Cured Properties:
- tensile strength: 5.5-7.0 MPa
- elongation: 80-100%
- durometer, Shore A: 45-60
- refractive index (25 °C): 1.43
- volatiles (4 hours/25 °C): 1.0 wt%
- coefficient of friction (aqueous environment, 37 °C): ~1.5-2.0
- critical surface tension: 23-24 mN/m
- tear strength: 1.75-2.60 kN/m
- specific gravity: 1.04
- contact angle, water: 105-110°
Application Methods:
Thoroughly mix Part A and Part B in a 10:1 ratio. Try to avoid introducing bubbles. For critical applications, de-air mix under vacuum for about 20 minutes. The pot-life is 12 hours at 25 °C. Pot-life may be extended by storing at 5 °C. Avoid entrapping air during transfer and casting. Cure at 80 °C for 4 hours or at room temperature for 36 hours.
Application and Reference Data: Inglis, D. et al. Biomicrofluidics 2010, 4, 26504.
Gelest® RG 02 2-Part Oleophilic Reprographic Silicone Elastomer (10:1 kit) PP2-RG02
Description: Gelest® RG 02 is a clear to translucent, high definition molding and encapsulation compound with greater adsorption of hydrocarbons than conventional silicones making it able to transfer a wider range of chemicals for self-assembly techniques and micro-contact printing.
Uncured Properties:
- viscosity (10:1) catalyzed: 3,000-4,000 cSt
- viscosity Part A (base): 5,000-5,500 cSt
- viscosity Part B (crosslinker): 35-75 cSt
Cured Properties:
- tensile strength: 2.0-4.0 MPa
- elongation: 80-100%
- durometer, Shore A: 35-45
- refractive index (25 °C): 1.43
- dielectric constant: 2.6
- critical surface tension: 27-29 mN/m
- tear strength: 1.75-2.10 kN/m
- specific gravity: 1.04
- contact angle, water: 110-115°
- swell wt% in toluene: 130% (standard PDMS 90%)
- swell wt% in heptane: 117% (standard PDMS 83%)
Application Methods:
Thoroughly mix Part A and Part B in a 10:1 ratio. Try to avoid introducing bubbles. For critical applications, de-air mix under vacuum for about 20 minutes. The pot-life is 12 hours at 25 °C. Pot-life may be extended by storing at 5 °C. Apply to substrate. Avoid entrapping air during transfer and casting. Cure at 80 °C for 4 hours or at room temperature for 36 hours.
Gelest® RG 03 2-Part Hydrophilic Reprographic Silicone Elastomer (4:1 kit) PP2-RG03
Description: Gelest® RG 03 is a clear to translucent, high definition molding and encapsulation compound with improved surface wettability and reduced coefficient of friction compared to conventional silicones. Microfluidic features exhibit lower hydrodynamic back-pressures.
Uncured Properties:
- viscosity (4:1) catalyzed: 3,000-7,500 cSt
- viscosity Part A (base): 3,500-8,000 cSt
- viscosity Part B (crosslinker): 30-85 cSt
Cured Properties:
- tensile strength: 3.5-6.0 MPa
- elongation: 200-400%
- durometer, Shore A: 30-50
- refractive index (25 °C): 1.43
- coefficient of friction (aqueous environment, 37 °C): 1.0-1.5 (standard reprographic PDMS ~2)
- tear strength: >2 kN/m
- specific gravity: 1.04
- contact angle, water: 85° (standard reprographic PDMS 110°)
Application Methods:
Thoroughly mix Part A and Part B in a 4:1 ratio. Try to avoid introducing bubbles. For critical applications, de-air mix under vacuum for about 20 minutes. The pot-life is 12 hours at 25 °C. Pot-life may be extended by storing at 5 °C. Apply to substrate. Avoid entrapping air during transfer and casting. Cure at 80 °C for 4+ hours or at room temperature for 36+ hours.
Application and Reference Data: Goff, J. et al. MRS Proceedings 2014, 1626.
Gelest® RG 04 2-Part Oleophobic Reprographic Silicone Elastomer (10:1 kit) PP2-RG04
Description: Gelest® RG 04 is a clear to translucent molding and encapsulation compound with greater resistance to swelling by hydrocarbons than conventional silicones, allowing for use of a wider range of solvents for microfluidic applications.
Uncured Properties:
- viscosity (10:1) catalyzed: 30,000-35,000 cSt
- viscosity Part A (base): 65,000-70,000 cSt
- viscosity Part B (crosslinker): 800-1,200 cSt
Cured Properties:
- tensile strength: 1.5-2.0 MPa
- elongation: 150-200%
- durometer, Shore A: 25-30
- refractive index (25 °C): 1.39
- specific gravity: 1.36
- contact angle, water: 110°
- contact angle, hexadecane: 45°
- swell wt% in toluene: 7% (standard PDMS 90%)
- swell wt% in heptane: 2% (standard PDMS 83%)
Application Methods:
Thoroughly mix Part A and Part B in a 10:1 ratio. (Due to the high viscosity of this system, the mixing step is not as facile as standard PDMS elastomers.) De-air mix under vacuum for about 30 minutes. The pot-life is 6 hours at 25 °C. Pot-life may be extended by storing at 5 °C. Pour into mold or apply to substrate. Avoid entrapping air. Cure at 80 °C for 4 hours or at room temperature for 72 hours.
Gelest® RG 05 2-Part Low Volatile Content Reprographic Silicone Elastomer (10:1 kit) PP2-RG05
Description: Gelest® RG 05 is a flexible, clear, high definition molding and encapsulation compound with low volatile content and greater dimensional stability. This low volatility formulation offers lower extractables and reduces the rate of hydrophobic recovery, providing improved performance in microelectronic and medical applications. The low volatile content allows for a greater window for long-term surface treatments.
Uncured Properties:
- viscosity (10:1) catalyzed: 3,500-5,000 cSt
- viscosity Part A (base): 5,000-6,000 cSt
- viscosity Part B (crosslinker): 50-75 cSt
Cured Properties:
- tensile strength: 5.5-7.0 MPa
- elongation: 80-100%
- durometer, Shore A: 45-60
- refractive index (25 °C): 1.43
- volatiles (4 hours/150 °C): ≤ 0.2 wt% (standard reprographic PDMS ≥ 1.0 wt%)
- dielectric constant: 2.7
- critical surface tension: 23-24 mN/m
- tear strength: 1.75-2.60 kN/m
- specific gravity: 1.04
- contact angle, water: 105-110°
Application Methods:
Thoroughly mix Part A and Part B in a 10:1 ratio. Try to avoid introducing bubbles. For critical applications, de-air mix under vacuum for about 20 minutes. The pot-life is 12 hours at 25 °C. Avoid entrapping air during transfer and casting. Cure at 80 °C for 4 hours or at room temperature for 36 hours.
Gelest® cPDMS 2-Part Overcoatable Reprographic Silicone Elastomer (10:1 kit) PP2-RG06
Description: Gelest® cPDMS is an overcoatable clear molding and encapsulation compound which allows for multilayer fabrication. The moderate viscosity of the catalyzed mix and long pot-life at room temperature make this extremely useful in microcontact printing, prototype and small production run applications.
Uncured Properties:
- viscosity (10:1) catalyzed: 3,500-4,500 cSt
- viscosity Part A (base): 4,000-5,000 cSt
- viscosity Part B (crosslinker): 500-750 cSt
Cured Properties:
- tensile strength: 6.0-7.0 MPa
- elongation: 100-200%
- durometer, Shore A: 40-50
- refractive index (25 °C): 1.41
- dielectric constant: 2.7
- specific gravity: 1.02
Application Methods:
Thoroughly mix Part A and Part B in a 10:1 ratio. Try to avoid introducing bubbles. For critical applications, de-air mix under vacuum for about 20 minutes. The pot-life is 4 hours at 25 °C. Avoid entrapping air. Cure at 80 °C for 1 hour or at room temperature for 24 hours. Overcoating should be done within 24 hours in all cases. Use standard cure conditions for overcoating. Final cure should be twice the time of the initial cure.
Gelest® hPDMS 2-Part High Modulus Reprographic Silicone Elastomer (10:1 kit) PP2-RG07
Description: Gelest® hPDMS is a clear molding and encapsulation compound with a higher modulus than conventional silicones. This ‘hard’ PDMS addresses the issues of compliant PDMS in soft lithography applications.
Uncured Properties:
- viscosity (10:1) catalyzed: 500-750 cSt
- viscosity Part A (base): 800-1,200 cSt
- viscosity Part B (crosslinker): 150-300 cSt
Cured Properties:
- tensile strength: 0.5-0.75 MPa
- elongation: 30-40%
- durometer, Shore A: 60-70
- refractive index (25 °C): 1.41
- specific gravity: 0.98
Application Methods:
Thoroughly mix Part A and Part B in a 1:1 ratio. Try to avoid introducing bubbles. For critical applications, de-air mix under vacuum for about 20 minutes. The pot-life is 4 hours at 25 °C. Avoid entrapping air during transfer and casting. Cure at 80 °C for 4 hours or at room temperature for 24 hours. Care is required in demolding this material. Mechanical penetration of the cured elastomer may compromise integrity of material; device access ports should be included in the master mold design.
Application and Reference Data:
- Schmid, H. et al. Macromolecules 2000, 33, 3042.
- Odom, T. et al. Langmuir 2002, 18, 5314.
Gelest® sPDMS 2-Part Spin-Coatable Reprographic Silicone Elastomer (100:1 kit) PP2-RG08
Description: Gelest® sPDMS is a spin-coatable, flexible, clear molding and encapsulation compound. This dilute formulation allows for spin-coating of Gelest RG 01 thin films onto a substrate.
Uncured Properties:
- solids: 8-12 wt%
- flashpoint: -4 °C
- specific gravity: 0.71
- viscosity (10:1) catalyzed: 3,500-4,500 cSt
- viscosity Part A (base): 4,000-5,000 cSt
- viscosity Part B (crosslinker): 500-750 cSt
Cured Properties:
- tensile strength: 5.5-7.0 MPa
- elongation: 80-100%
- durometer, Shore A: 45-60
- refractive index (25 °C): 1.43
- dielectric constant: 2.7
- critical surface tension: 23-24 mN/m
- tear strength: 1.75-2.60 kN/m
- contact angle, water: 105-110°
Application Methods:
Thoroughly mix Part A and Part B in a 100:1 ratio. The pot-life is 12 hours at 25 °C. Recommended spin-coating speed is 1,000-2,000 rpm to achieve PDMS thin films with sub-micron thickness. Cure at 80° C for 4 hours or at room temperature for 36 hours.
Gelest® xPDMS 2-Part High Elongation Reprographic Silicone Elastomer (100:1 kit) PP2-RG09
Description: Gelest® xPDMS is a flexible, translucent molding and encapsulation compound with significantly higher elongation than conventional silicones. Gelest® xPDMS also has a greater amount of self-sealing compared to conventional silicone RTVs, allowing for mechanical penetration of cannulae and optical fibers as well as electroactive interconnects.
Uncured Properties:
- viscosity (10:1) catalyzed: 12,000-14,000 cSt
- viscosity Part A (base): 12,000-14,000 cSt
- viscosity Part B (crosslinker): 800-1,000 cSt
Cured Properties:
- tensile strength: 6.0-7.0 MPa
- elongation: 4,000-6,000%
- durometer, Shore A: 10-15
- refractive index (25 °C): 1.41
- volatiles (4 hours/150 °C): ≤ 0.1 wt%
- critical surface tension: 23-24 mN/m
- specific gravity: 1.12
- tear strength: 40.0-42.0 kN/m
- contact angle, water: 105-110°
- elongation at tear: 2,000%
Application Methods:
Thoroughly mix Part A and Part B in a 100:1 ratio. Try to avoid introducing bubbles. For critical applications, de-air mix under vacuum for about 20 minutes. The pot-life is 24 hours at 25 °C. Avoid entrapping air during transfer and casting. Cure at 80 °C for 4 hours or at room temperature for 36 hours.
Application and Reference Data:
- Goff, J. et al. Polymer Preprints 2012, 53(1), 486.
- Goff, J. et al. Advanced Materials 2016, 28(12), 2393-2398.