Wacker Elastosil® RT 601 A/B – Transparent Addition-Cure Silicone for Electronics & Potting

Premium Transparent Addition-Cure Silicone for Professional Electronics Encapsulation and Potting

ELASTOSIL® RT 601 A/B is a pourable, addition-cure (platinum-cure) two-component silicone rubber that vulcanises at room temperature (RTV-2). The cured rubber is crystal clear and transparent, has a medium hardness of Shore A 45 and a low mixed viscosity of 3,500 mPa·s, so the material flows extremely well and de-airs itself readily. With a generous working time of approximately 90 minutes, a mix ratio of 9:1 by weight and an excellent tensile strength of 6 N/mm², it is the ideal choice for transparent potting and protection of electronic components, sensors and optical parts.

Key Benefits

• Crystal-clear transparency – fully transparent vulcanisate that keeps potted components visible, ideal for optical applications and applications that require inspection.
• Hardness Shore A 45 – medium hardness that provides protection while remaining flexible enough to absorb mechanical stresses.
• Tensile strength 6 N/mm² and elongation at break 100% – strong, resilient vulcanisate that copes with vibration and thermal expansion.
• Mixed viscosity 3,500 mPa·s – low viscosity for excellent flow around fine components and easy de-airing.
• Working time approximately 90 minutes – generous pot life for comfortable working on larger or complex potting jobs.
• Volume resistivity 10¹⁵ Ohm·cm – excellent electrical insulation to protect electronic circuits.

Typical Applications

• Encapsulation (potting) of electronic components and printed circuit boards.
• Protection of automotive electronics against vibration and moisture.
• Potting of sensors and measurement and control equipment.
• Optical measuring equipment and transparent optical applications.
• All-round potting compound for industrial electronics.
• Production of cast parts where transparency is desired.

Processing Instructions

1. Stir component A and component B thoroughly, each separately, before weighing.
2. Weigh out in a 9:1 ratio by weight (A:B). Important: only use A and B components with the same lot number. The platinum catalyst is in component A, the crosslinker in component B.
3. Mix A and B thoroughly until homogeneous. Tools that have been in contact with the platinum-containing component A must not come into contact with component B, to prevent premature gelling.
4. De-air the mixture under vacuum to remove trapped air, especially when potting fine components.
5. Pour within the pot life of approximately 90 minutes. Reactivity can be adjusted with Catalyst EP (faster) or Inhibitor PT 88 (slower).
6. Allow to cure: approximately 24 hours at 23 °C, or accelerated in 20 minutes at 70 °C or 10 minutes at 100 °C.

Inhibition with Addition-Cure Silicones

ELASTOSIL® RT 601 A/B is an addition-cure (platinum) silicone and is therefore susceptible to inhibition. Sulphur-containing materials, plasticisers, urethanes, amine-containing materials and organometallic compounds (especially organotin compounds) can inhibit or prevent curing. If in doubt about a substrate, always carry out a small-scale test first.

About the Manufacturer

Wacker Chemie AG is a global market leader in the development and production of silicones for industrial and technical applications.

Professional Support

Need advice on the right processing, curing time or application for your potting or encapsulation project? Feel free to contact us – our specialists will be happy to help.