How much UV-C exposure does it take to degrade medical grade silicone tubing? Also, does silicone disrupt the UV-C wavelength (what is the transference rate)? This is for a Home Made DIY water disinfection / autoclave box, in which I would like to use a 12 watt (50% efficient) bulb, the type found in residential reverse osmosis water filtration units.
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I understand that "medical grade" only refers to it's ability to withstand autoclaving via heat treatment, and that resistance to degradation by UV-C is little, if no different compared to other silicone. UV-C is commonly used to cure silicone, so I believe that constant exposure to UV-C, as you are proposing, will result in rather rapid degradation (brittling), although I don't have the exact figures that you are looking for. Perhaps wikipedia has some figures for you. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicone
Upon reading wikipedia, it seems that silicone has a "Excellent resistance to oxygen, ozone, and ultraviolet (UV) light such as that in sunlight."
Upon reading wikipedia, it seems that silicone has a "Excellent resistance to oxygen, ozone, and ultraviolet (UV) light such as that in sunlight."