Specialty Silicone Products (SSP) makes low outgassing silicones and publishes the ASTM E595 test data that we receive from independent laboratories. All third-party test reports are available on SSP’s website so that you can view and download the results. Pacific Testing Laboratories of Valencia, California has tested numerous EMI/RFI silicones and Exova OCM has tested a 60-durometer sample of a USP Class VI silicone. Currently, several grades of SSP’s aerospace elastomers are being tested according to ASTM E595.
What is ASTM E595?
ASTM E595 is a standard test method for total mass loss (TML) and collected volatile condensable materials (CVCM) from outgassing in a vacuum environment. Although the test itself does not specify maximum allowable limits, NASA has established requirements that are quoted and used. The most commonly quoted requirement is CVCM < 0.1% and TML < 1%. Because some water vapor (WVR) is regained after testing is complete, another (but less commonly quoted) requirement is CVCM < 0.1% and TML-WVR < 1%.
Why is Outgassing a Problem in Electronics, Optics, and Space?
When volatile compounds evaporate, they usually condense upon something else. This causes surface contamination and, depending on the contaminated material, problems such as corrosion or fogging. With microelectronics, volatiles that condense may cause devices to malfunction or fail. With optics, fogging occurs. With satellites, the vacuum pressure of outer space draws-out volatiles so that they escape more readily than at atmospheric pressure. Because it’s difficult if not impossible to repair or replace electronics and optics in outer space, it’s critical to use low-outgassing materials in applications such as satellites.
How Does SSP Make Low Off-Gassing Silicones?
SSP has access to silicone bases and polymers from a variety of producers. This allows us to formulate specialized materials that meet customer requirements not only for physical properties, but also for outgassing – or off-gassing, as it’s sometimes called. Today, SSP is working across different silicone chemistries to combine other desirable properties such as low temperature resistance or solvent and fuel resistance with low outgassing performance.
Low Outgassing EMI Silicones
SSP supplies low outgassing EMI silicones that are filled with metal or metal-coated particles and that use silicone or fluorosilicone as the base elastomer. These compounds can provide corrosion resistance, meet MIL-DTL-83528 requirements, or have UL 94-V0 flame resistance for offsets to discontinued GORE materials. Some of SSP’s EMI elastomers have low levels of outgassing with and without a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA). The following table provides product details.
Product | Filler | Base | Notes |
Nickel-Aluminum | Silicone | Corrosion resistant | |
Nickel-Aluminum | Fluorosilicone | Corrosion resistant Outgas tested with and without conductive PSA | |
Silver-Aluminum | Silicone | Full compliance to MIL-DTL-83528 Type B | |
Silver-Aluminum | Fluorosilicone | Full compliance to MIL-DTL-83528 Type D | |
Silver-Aluminum | Fluorosilicone | Low Durometer Outgas tested with and without conductive PSA | |
Silver-Aluminum | Fluorosilicone | Continuous roll stock grade vs. molded sheet Outgas tested with and without conductive PSA | |
Nickel-Graphite | Silicone | Flame retardant (UL 94-V0) Offset to GORE GS2100 Outgas tested with and without conductive PSA | |
Nickel-Graphite | Silicone | Flame retardant (UL 94-V0) Offset to GORE GS5200 Outgas tested with and without conductive PSA |
Low Outgassing USP Class VI Silicones
In addition to low outgassing silicones for EMI shielding, SSP makes elastomers without metal or metal-coated fillers. For example, SSP-2390 is a series of high-purity, platinum-catalyzed, translucent silicones that are USP Class VI and FDA CFR 177.2600* compliant for medical and healthcare applications. SSP sent a clear silicone slab of SSP-2390-60 to Exova Owa labs and received a report stating that the TML and CVCM levels are within the accepted range for outgassing.
Low Outgassing Aerospace Silicones and More Information
Currently, several of SSP’s specialty aerospace elastomers are being tested for low levels of outgassing according to the ASTM E595 standard test method. These SSP elastomers include MIL-DTL-25988 fluorosilicone and AA-59588, Class 1 low-temperature grades. For more information about our low outgassing elastomers, contact SSP on-line or email Dominic Testo.
*See data sheet
