What is OSleeve Made Out Of?Updated a month ago

You may be wondering what our OSleeves are made out of. 

We're now into our fifth generation of OSleeve. Each generation has had refinements that functioned to improve the look, feel, fit, and overall function based on feedback from real customers and our product testing group.

We started out with a type of harder material called thermoplastic, but the feedback from customers suggested we needed to take a different direction. 

We shifted to high quality silicone after generation 3.0 (from June 2023 until now).

Our base material is medical-grade silicone - it's expensive, but it means it's the highest quality silicone you can get. 

We then use a food-grade, skin-safe pigment as an additive to create the colored versions of OSleeve.

Our Silicone Generations (not to be confused with 'Rubber')

The most recent generations are made out of silicone. More specifically, Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR). Don't be deceived by the word 'rubber' here because rubber is not only the term used to describe "natural rubber" and a group of human-made polymers called elastomers aka rubbers.

Let's get a bit technical for a minute.

Silicone rubber differs significantly from regular rubber in several key aspects:

1. Composition and Origin: Silicone rubber is a synthetic material derived from silicon, a chemical element, through a specialized manufacturing process. In contrast, regular rubber, often referring to natural rubber, is harvested from the latex of rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis) or produced synthetically from petroleum-based materials.

2. Heat and Chemical Resistance: Silicone rubber exhibits superior resistance to heat, chemicals, and UV radiation compared to regular rubber. This makes silicone rubber highly durable in environments with varying temperatures and exposure to harsh chemicals or sunlight.

3. Elasticity and Flexibility: Both silicone rubber and regular rubber are elastomers, meaning they possess elasticity and can return to their original shape after deformation. However, natural rubber typically offers higher elasticity and flexibility compared to silicone rubber, which tends to be slightly less flexible but still maintains good elasticity.

4. Applications: Due to its excellent heat resistance and chemical inertness, silicone rubber finds extensive use in industries such as automotive, aerospace, medical devices, and food processing where durability and hygiene are critical. Regular rubber, on the other hand, is commonly used in tires, industrial belts, footwear, and various consumer products where its natural elasticity and resilience are advantageous.

5. Allergenic Potential: Natural rubber can cause allergic reactions in some individuals, whereas silicone rubber is generally hypoallergenic and biocompatible. This property makes silicone rubber preferred in medical applications such as prosthetics, implants, and medical tubing where contact with sensitive skin or tissues is frequent.

In essence, while both silicone rubber and regular rubber share some similarities as elastomers, their distinct compositions, properties, and applications make them suitable for different industrial and consumer uses.