- Family
- VMQ (silicone)
- Standard range
- -54 C to 204 C (Parker® O-Ring Handbook ORD 5700)
- Special grades
- to -115 C, to 260 C
- Durometers
- 30 to 70 Shore A solid; sponge by density
- Standards
- ASTM D1418 VMQ; ASTM D2000 FE/GE; A-A-59588; SAE AMS 3302
- Product
- Sheet gaskets waterjet-cut to your drawing in Orange, California
Service temperatures here are the family figures published in Parker O-Ring Handbook ORD 5700A/US §2.2; the compound datasheet and your application govern the final choice.
Every common gasket sheet material is quick for us to source, and we cut it to your print on our waterjet.
Silicone is a gasket material with a wide temperature range, for static service, dry heat, extreme cold, and food and medical equipment on compliant compounds. The Parker O-Ring Handbook (ORD 5700) rates the family from -54 C (-65 F) to 204 C (400 F), with special compounds reaching -115 C and 260 C. Conquest cuts solid and sponge silicone sheet gaskets on the waterjet in thicknesses from 1/32 in.
What we cut
Conquest cuts sheet gaskets on a pure-water waterjet, the one product made in house. Typical figures for waterjet-cut gaskets, as fabricators and a waterjet maker publish them rather than a Conquest machine spec: a pure-water jet cuts sponge 2 in thick and solid rubber over 1 in with a square edge and no die concavity (Stockwell Elastomerics), leaves a kerf of 0.003 to 0.015 in (Flow International), and holds plus or minus 0.010 in on dimensions under 12 in and plus or minus 0.020 in on larger parts (NEDC, sponge and foam gaskets). There is no die to build, so prototypes, revision changes and short runs go through the same setup as a repeat, and expensive stock nests tightly with no die-skeleton waste. Molded and lathe-cut parts, and non-sheet compounds, are supplied from our manufacturers.
Silicone gasket specifications
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Continuous service temperature | -54 C to 204 C (-65 F to 400 F); special compounds -115 C and 260 C | Parker ORD 5700 |
| Durometers cut | 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 Shore A solid; sponge by density | Conquest Seal sheet list |
| Sheet thicknesses | 1/32, 1/16, 1/8, 3/16, 1/4 in | Conquest Seal sheet list |
| Sheet forms | 36 x 36 in sheet, 36 in roll; solid, sponge, with or without pressure-sensitive adhesive backing | Conquest Seal sheet list |
| Material designation | VMQ under ASTM D1418; ASTM D2000 type-class FE and GE line callouts | ASTM D2000 |
| Specification callouts | A-A-59588 (commercial item description), SAE AMS 3302 and the AMS 3301 to 3305 hardness series | DLA ASSIST and SAE records, read 2026-09-06 |
| Compliance available | FDA 21 CFR 177.2600 and USP Class VI on specific (typically platinum-cured) compounds | Compound datasheets |
Where silicone gaskets work, and where they fail
| Medium or condition | Verdict | Note (Parker O-Ring Handbook ORD 5700) |
|---|---|---|
| Dry heat: ovens, heaters, lighting, enclosures | Excellent | The core silicone application |
| Extreme cold | Excellent | Flexible at the cold end of the Parker range; special compounds go colder |
| Food, beverage, medical contact (static) | Excellent on compliant compounds | The food and medical default |
| Ozone, weather, UV; electrical insulation | Excellent | Saturated backbone; high dielectric strength |
| Hot water | Good | Steam degrades standard compounds; the compound sheet states any steam rating |
| Fuels, petroleum oils | Not recommended | Swells; use nitrile or Viton® |
| Dynamic or abrasive service | Not recommended | Low tear strength; static seals only |
Where silicone is used, and the usual alternatives
It is usually specified for enclosure and lid gaskets in dry heat or cold, sponge gaskets for cushioning and sealing under low bolt load, and food, beverage and medical equipment on a compliant compound. It is not the sheet for oil or fuel (nitrile or Viton), for steam (EPDM), or for anything that moves. The silicone O-ring guide covers the same material in O-ring form and the FDA guide the compliance schemes.
Sources: 21 CFR 177.2600; A-A-59588; AMS 3301; AMS 3302; ASTM D1418; ASTM D2000; Parker O-Ring Handbook ORD 5700 §2.2 (read 2026-09-14); USP Class VI; Conquest Seal sheet list (September 2026); typical waterjet figures, not a Conquest machine spec: Stockwell Elastomerics, Waterjet Cutting; Flow International, Waterjet Dictionary; NEDC, Die-Cut and Waterjet Cut Tolerances for Sponge/Foam Gaskets (each read 2026-09-24).
Parker is a trademark of Parker Hannifin Corporation. Viton is a trademark of The Chemours Company. No affiliation or endorsement is implied.
Reviewed by Grant Midstokke, Conquest Seal Corporation. Last updated September 2026. Material ranges are the published references named beside them; the sheet's own datasheet and your application govern the final choice.
Frequently asked
Solid or sponge silicone?
Sponge seals under low closing force and cushions; solid seals pressure and holds dimensions. Sponge is specified by density and compression-deflection rather than durometer.
Is red silicone different from white?
Only in pigment. Compliance comes from the compound sheet, never the color.
Can a silicone gasket be autoclaved?
Specific medical compounds are rated by their makers for steam sterilization cycles; standard silicone degrades in steam. The compound sheet states any steam rating.
Does silicone take adhesive backing?
Yes; silicone sheet is supplied with a pressure-sensitive adhesive on one side for enclosure gaskets, and the waterjet cuts it with the liner on.
Send the Silicone gasket drawing and the quantity
A DXF, DWG or PDF of the gasket, the sheet thickness, the durometer and the quantity. Gaskets are cut in our own shop in Orange, California; a Conquest representative replies.
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