If you’re trying to control moisture inside a sealed device (and every cubic millimeter counts), this paper lays out practical selection guidance backed by test data.
Inside the paper:
- How adsorption changes at 25% vs 50% desiccant loading
- When RTV vs LSR vs HCR tends to make sense
- Where molded silicone desiccant is a better fit than packaged desiccant
Abstract: The desiccant performance and mechanical properties of various silicone rubber desiccants were characterized. In this study, we tested the performance of RTV, LSR, and HCR silicone rubber combined with 25% and 50% desiccant powder by weight. We verified that the adsorption capacity of all silicones was comparable, adsorbing ~5% of its weight at 25% desiccant, ~10% at 50% desiccant, compared to ~20% adsorption of pure desiccant. LSR had the longest elongation, HCR had the greatest yield strength, and RTV had slightly higher adsorption capacity, making each material optimal for different applications.