1、Raw materials and production processes
Food-grade silicone: Made from high-purity silicone raw materials, it usually adopts the platinum vulcanization process. This process can ensure the material's high transparency, high elasticity and high tear strength. Its production process strictly complies with food safety regulations to ensure the absence of harmful substances.
Ordinary silicone: The raw material cost is relatively low, it may contain additives or fillers, and the production process is relatively simple. Ordinary silicone is prone to volatilizing harmful substances at high temperatures.
2. Performance
Food-grade silicone
Temperature resistance: It can withstand a temperature range from -40℃ to 230℃ and is suitable for various environments such as microwave ovens, ovens, and refrigerators.
Stretchability: No whitening occurs during stretching, and it has high tear strength.
Transparency: It usually has a relatively high level of transparency.
Ordinary silicone
Temperature resistance: The temperature resistance range is relatively narrow. It is prone to deformation or release of harmful substances at high temperatures.
Stretchability: It is prone to whitening during stretching, and the tearing effect is obvious.
Transparency: Usually semi-transparent.
3. Security and Authentication
Food-grade silicone: Complies with food safety standards such as FDA (Food and Drug Administration of the United States) or LFGB (European Food Safety Authority), is non-toxic, odorless, and free of harmful substances.
Ordinary silicone: It has not undergone strict food safety certification and may contain additives or fillers. It is not suitable for direct contact with food.
4. Smell
Food-grade silicone: No obvious odor. Even if there is a slight smell, it is caused by vulcanization during the production process and does not affect product quality.
Ordinary silicone: It may have a pungent chemical smell.
5. Price
Food-grade silicone: Due to the high requirements for raw materials and production processes, its price is relatively high.
Ordinary silicone: The price is relatively low.
6. Actual testing methods
Tensile test: Pull the silicone product forcefully. Food-grade silicone will not turn white, while ordinary silicone will.
Odor test: Smell the silicone product. If there is a pungent smell, it might be ordinary silicone.