Slick Sil® LSR Coated Silicone Rubber

What Is Slick Sil® LSR Coating for Silicone Rubber?

Slick Sil® LSR is a PFAS-FREE, chemically bonded LSR coating designed to reduce the surface friction of molded and extruded silicone rubber. Unlike parylene, which physically bonds and cracks under flexion, Slick Sil® LSR is conformable and elastomeric, making it a reliable low friction silicone coating for medical applications.

Eliminate the Stickiness of Silicone Rubber with PFAS-FREE Slick Sil® LSR

Slick Sil® LSR eliminates the inherently high friction of raw silicone rubber by chemically bonding a low friction surface directly to the substrate. This allows LIM®, HCR, and RTV silicone materials to be used in applications that were previously incompatible with silicone due to surface tack and friction.

Surface Solutions Group has developed a totally conformable yet flexible and low friction PFAS-FREE Slick Sil® LSR coating for silicone rubber that is bonded chemically to the silicone substrate. Slick Sil® LSR is a replacement for parylene, which is a physical bond and tends to crack and peel when the substrate is flexed or stretched. This low friction LSR coating allows designers and engineers to have the benefits of silicone rubber without the high friction surface.

All molded or extruded silicone rubber parts can be processed with the SSG Slick Sil® LSR low friction technology. SSG’s Slick Sil® LSR is a great parylene replacement coating that makes silicone slippery.

Slick Sil® LSR Coating Performance and Friction Reduction

Slick Sil® LSR reduces the coefficient of friction from 0.65 (raw silicone) to 0.31, a 52% reduction, while maintaining the elastomeric properties and elongation of the base silicone rubber. The translucent matte coating is VOC-free, biocompatible to USP Class VI requirements.

Low Friction & Flexible Replacement for Parylene

Slick Sil® LSR is a flexible liquid silicone rubber coating that moves with the substrate, unlike parylene which is rigid and prone to cracking when the underlying silicone is flexed or stretched. The chemical bond ensures the coating stays intact through repeated compression, stretching, and bending.

Slick Sil® LSR is a translucent matte coating designed to reduce the coefficient of friction (CoF) and hence, the friction force of molded and extruded silicone elastomers. The ability of Slick Sil® LSR coatings to reduce the surface friction of elastomeric silicone parts enables LIM® (Liquid Silicone Rubber), HCR, and RTV materials to be used in areas that were previously closed to silicones due to their high inherent CoF.

Key Features of Slick Sil® LSR Coating

Slick Sil® LSR combines a low friction coefficient of 0.31, PFAS-FREE chemistry, USP Class VI biocompatibility, and an optional anti-microbial formulation. The thin film (0.00001″ to 0.0002″) is elastomeric, VOC-free, and can be tinted with silicone-compatible pigments, making it a versatile LSR coating for medical device applications.

PFAS-FREE coating
Low friction (.31) vs. raw silicone (.65)
Chemical bond
Thin film (.00001” – .0002”)
Elastomeric
Excellent elongation
Reduces surface dust pick up
VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) free
Biocompatible (USP class VI requirements)
Can be tinted by using silicone compatible pigments
Anti-microbial properties (optional)

How Slick Sil® LSR Compares to Raw Silicone Rubber

Raw silicone rubber has a coefficient of friction of 0.65, which limits its use in low-friction applications. Slick Sil® LSR coating reduces that to 0.31 through a chemical bond, not a physical bond, so it does not peel, crack, or delaminate under normal flexion and stress.

Why Choose Slick Sil® LSR Over Parylene or Silicone Lubricants?

Parylene requires expensive vapor deposition and cracks on flexible silicone, while silicone lubricants can migrate and contaminate manufacturing environments. Slick Sil® LSR is a permanent, chemically bonded coating that eliminates both problems, providing consistent low friction performance without the process cost or contamination risk of alternatives.

Disadvantages of Parylene & Silicone Lubricants

Parylene coatings are rigid, require vapor deposition, and lack anti-microbial properties. Silicone lubricants are expensive, prone to migration, and add a manufacturing step that risks cross-contamination. Both alternatives lack the permanent chemical bond, biocompatibility, and anti-microbial options that Slick Sil® LSR coated silicone rubber provides.

Disadvantages of Parylene for Silicone Rubber

A rigid coating that cracks on flexible silicone (physical bond)
Requires time-consuming and expensive vapor deposition process
No anti-microbial properties

Disadvantages of Silicone Lubricants for Silicone Rubber

If not applied correctly, the lubricant can migrate
Extra cost and step in manufacturing process
Contamination of other manufacturing areas in facility
Extremely expensive
No anti-microbial properties