Carlin SA. Specialise in Silicone,Rubber,Plastics and Hoses

09/09/2025

Since 1982, Carlin SA has been transforming polymers into solutions that power industries across Africa – with quality, precision, and reliability at our core.
🌐 www.carlinsa.com

04/09/2025

🌟 One Group. Many Solutions. 🌟

This is who we are. This is Carlin SA.

✅ Locally manufactured in Germiston, South Africa
✅ ISO 9001:2015 certified for quality management
✅ Export-ready across the SADC region

🌐 www.carlinsa.com

03/09/2025

🔍 Why is silicone so unique?
The answer lies in its polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) chains – the flexible backbone of every silicone material –[Si(CH3​)2​–O]–n​

Here’s how this molecular structure translates into real-world performance 👇

🧩 PDMS Structure → Silicone Properties
✅ Flexible Si–O backbone → stays elastic down to –60 °C
✅ Methyl side groups → water repellent & non-stick
✅ Strong Si–O bonds → withstands up to 250 °C
✅ Chain mobility → soft-touch comfort in medical & consumer uses

🌍 Real-World Applications

🔧 Automotive: heat-resistant gaskets — the strong Si–O bonds provide thermal stability through repeated heat cycles.

💉 Medical: biocompatible tubing, implants & LSR mouldings — the methyl side groups create low surface energy and biocompatibility, ensuring safe contact with the human body.

🍳 Consumer: flexible non-stick bakeware — the chain mobility and methyl groups give silicone its elastic, soft-touch, and non-stick surface.

🥖 Bakery & Food: hygienic, high-temp seals for ovens, proofing systems & processing equipment — the Si–O backbone maintains elasticity at high temperatures, while the hydrophobic methyl groups resist food residue and moisture.

💡 Lighting: IP-rated silicone seals for outdoor & industrial enclosures — the inorganic Si–O backbone resists UV, ozone, and thermal stress, protecting enclosures from weathering.

❄️ Refrigeration: long-life gaskets & door seals — the flexible Si–O backbone keeps silicone elastic at sub-zero temperatures, ensuring tight, durable sealing in cold environments.

⚡ Electronics: insulating components — the wide Si–O bond angle and low polarity provide excellent dielectric strength and resistance to electrical tracking.

At Carlin SA, we transform PDMS chemistry into reliable, export-ready silicone rubber products – from RTV sealants to HTV extrusions and LSR precision mouldings.

👉 Looking for the right silicone grade for your application? Let’s talk.
🌐 www.carlinsa.com | ISO-certified | Proudly SA-based, globally connected.

26/08/2025

Carlin SA | Sulphur vs Peroxide Cure – What’s the Difference?

22/08/2025

🧪 How Silicone Sponge Seals Contribute to IP Ratings

Many customers ask if silicone sponge seals themselves carry an IP rating. The answer: they don’t. Testing (IEC 60529 or SANS 60529) is always performed on the complete enclosure with the seal installed and compressed

🔸 🧹 Dust & Water Testing
Dust (IP5X–IP6X): Talc chambers under airflow/pressure.
Water (IPX5–IPX7): From directional jets to 30 min immersion at 1 m.

🔸 🔧 Design Factors for Sealing
Correct compression (30–40% typical for sponge).
Medium/high-density silicone sponge for IP66–67.
Continuous gaskets (mitred or vulcanized corners).
Even fastening torque to prevent leak paths.

🔸 ♻️ Material & Performance
Low compression set.
Vulcanization ensures strong, gap-free joints.

Long-term sealing force retention.
✅ While silicone sponge seals aren’t rated on their own, when engineered correctly they are key to achieving IP65, IP66, and IP67 enclosures.

💡 At Carlin SA, we proudly supply a wide range of seals and gaskets to lighting manufacturers, helping them achieve these demanding IP ratings.

🌍 Fully export-ready across the SADC region
📑 ISO 9001:2015 certified
🌐 www.carlinsa.com

21/08/2025

🧴 Using Silicone Glue E43 – A Practical Guide 🔧

When it comes to bonding, sealing, and repairing in demanding industrial and engineering environments, Silicone Glue E43 is a trusted solution. At Carlin SA, we regularly help customers understand how to apply it effectively to ensure reliable and long-lasting performance.

1️⃣ Surface Preparation
Always start with clean, dry surfaces. Remove grease, dust, and loose particles to ensure strong adhesion.
2️⃣ Apply Evenly
Cut the nozzle to the desired bead size and apply a continuous, even line of E43. The product is self-levelling, which allows it to spread smoothly for a consistent finish.
3️⃣ Allow for Cure
As a room-temperature vulcanising (RTV) silicone, E43 begins to skin over within minutes and cures fully over time. A general guideline is around 12 hours per millimetre of thickness, depending on temperature and humidity.
4️⃣ Versatile Applications
• Bonding: Metals, glass, ceramics, and many plastics
• Sealing: Enclosures, ovens, appliances, and industrial machinery
• Repairs: Filling gaps, cracks, or joints exposed to heat and vibration
5️⃣ Key Properties
✅ Self-levelling for smooth coverage
✅ Strong adhesion without the need for primers
✅ Flexible yet durable bond structure
✅ Excellent resistance to weathering and ageing
✅ Withstands continuous temperatures up to approx. 180 °C, with short-term peaks to 200 °C
6️⃣ Safety Note
E43 releases a small amount of acetic acid during curing, so ensure adequate ventilation during use.

✅ Correct application of E43 ensures durable bonds, reliable seals, and long-term performance in tough environments.

🌍 At Carlin SA, we supply a full range of silicone extrusions, mouldings, and compatible adhesives for industrial, medical, and food-grade applications.
🔗 www.carlinsa.com

19/08/2025

12/08/2025

Hotter. Colder. Stronger. ❄️

Silicone rubber can handle a 300 °C temperature swing in seconds — and still seal perfectly.

How?
🔹 Thermal shock resistance – The polymer chains in silicone stay flexible even when temperatures plunge from +250 °C to -50 °C almost instantly.
🔹 Low compression set – It bounces back to shape after extreme thermal cycling.
🔹 Material memory – Crosslinked silicone “remembers” its form, keeping gaskets and seals tight under punishing conditions.

From blast freezer doors to industrial baking ovens, Carlin SA’s silicone products thrive under extreme conditions.

💪 Flexible under heat. Resilient in the cold.
🌍 ISO 9001:2015 Certified & fully export-ready across the SADC region
🔗 www.carlinsa.com

01/08/2025

🏷️ Shore Hardness (A / D): Defining Material Firmness for Rubber & Silicone

Shore Hardness quantifies a material’s resistance to indentation - measured on a durometer scale from 0 to 100, indicating whether an elastomer is soft, flexible, or rigid under static load.

📏 Picking the Correct Scale

Shore A: Used for soft‑to‑medium rubbers and silicones (roughly 10A–90A), the kind ideal for seals, gaskets and o‑rings.

Shore D: Intended for harder rubbers and plastics (around 50D–100D), where stiffness and load-bearing capability are non-negotiable.

Always compare values within the same scale - Shore A and Shore D figures are not interchangeable.

✅ Why It Matters

Fit for purpose: Flexibility for sealing or cushioning? Opt for 30–50 Shore A. Structural strength or resistance to wear? Go 70–90A or equivalent D.

Consistent quality: Carlin SA operates under ISO 9001:2015‑certified processes to deliver repeatable hardness and product reliability.

Real-world performance: Material hardness influences compression set, sealing pressure and durability under working conditions.

🛠️ Tips for Trustworthy Hardness Testing

Prep surfaces first: Test only on clean, flat, contamination-free specimens to avoid false readings.

Match your tool & calibrate regularly: Use a durometer suited to the scale (A or D), and check calibration frequently with certified reference blocks - not just annually.

Apply with care: Press the durometer straight down with steady, even force before noting the reading.

Hardness ≠ strength: Shore rating measures indentation resistance - not tensile strength, wear resistance, or tear performance. Always back it up with further mechanical testing.

🧠 Summary

Shore Hardness gives a standard measure of material firmness, but only if you use the correct scale.

The chosen hardness range directly affects how a part performs - be it a seal, a cushion or a load-bearing piece.

Accuracy demands best practice: proper sample prep, correct scale selection, calibrated tools, and disciplined test technique.

Don’t rely on hardness alone - always evaluate alongside other mechanical properties to specify the right rubber.

At Carlin SA, we’re proud to offer custom compounding and precise hardness specification - from 10 Shore A through Shore D - for automotive, industrial, food & beverage and medical sectors.

Fully export-ready across the SADC region

ISO 9001:2015 certification ensures consistency, traceability, and technical assurance at every hardness grade.

Visit us at 👉 www.carlinsa.com