The Strengths & Common Use of Silicone in Food Processing:

DATE: 19th-July-2019
Silicone rubber is widely used in food processing from home to industrial-scale cooking. The properties of silicone make this polymer material ideal for food applications. Silicone combines the following properties:

  • The ability to withstand extremely high and low temperatures (from -60°C to + 200°C) for extended periods of time
  • Chemical resistance and compatibility
  • Suitability for contact with dry, aqueous and fatty foods 
  • High quality and long-lasting product
  • Safety, as the levels of volatiles and extractable particles rejected are low

Jehbco Silicones has provided custom made silicone solutions for the last 40 years and aims to keep providing high-quality products to the food industry. All food-grade silicone produced by Jehbco uses U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved materials and follows FDA standards. All food grade products made by Jehbco are thoroughly post-cured to further decrease levels of extractables.

Additionally, Jehbco can make silicone food grade heat stable products using a specially designed additive. This increases the extreme temperatures that silicone can withstand from 200°C to 300°C.  

Furthermore, Jehbco has recently researched and developed a platinum sponge which meets food grade requirements of FDA. Platinum food grade sponge made by Jehbco has the following advantages:

  • The ability to withstand extreme high and low temperatures (from -40°C to + 200°C) 
  • Low density (400-650 kg m-3)
  • Low compression deflection (92.4 kPa, 13.4 psi)
  • Low hardness (20 Shore A)
  • Excellent compressibility (9%)

Food grade silicone products are used by a wide range of industries including oven/refrigeration, milk and dairy, meat processing, powder containment/transport, beverages, and food packaging etc. For example, some of Jehbco’s products are used in-line for some of their processes such as conveyors and others are used in batch processes such as fermentation vats.

Similarly, a wide range of food-grade silicone products can be produced:

  • Seals: commonly used for ovens, refrigeration units, powder containment/hoppers, and blenders. The majority of seals sold by Jehbco are corner-joined or butt-joined for sealing application, but Jehbco can also provide custom made O-rings for sealing applications.
  • Inflatable gaskets: used for a number of applications, from sealing of machinery to in-line support of food products (e.g. some of Jehbco’ inflatable gaskets are used to hold ice-cream cones in place during production).
  • Sheets:  often used for heat/vibratory insulation
  • Tubing: often used for fluid transfer, pumping application
Range of colour silicone rubber gaskets - Jehbco Silicones, manufactured in Australia

Jehbco extrudes any shape, cuts to any particular length and bonds to form a variety of inner-diameter sizes.

If you would like to learn more about how silicone can be used in food applications please see our applications page or contact us.