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Silicone is an extremely versatile material, and is suitable for many diverse applications.

However, this material would not normally be used for high traffic applications. This is because even the best high strength compounds have a relatively modest resistance to abrasion wear. Natural rubber is a much more durable material. Please see Primasil Polymers for more information on natural rubber products.
 
Products made from silicone are very difficult to paint (although Primasil have developed a technique to print on silicone). Special surface treatments can help but in general silicones resist paint application. This is normally remedied by colour matching of the application, typically using a pantone, RAL, BS, or NCS reference.

Conventional silicone rubber is not suitable in environments where it comes into contact with oils, fuels, and solvents.  Fluorosilicone however, performs excellently under such conditions, and Primasil are a major UK supplier.