Extrusión hueca de silicona vs manga de silicona vs tiras de plástico LED de manga: ¿cuál elegir?

With the increasing popularity of LED lighting technology, selecting the right protective solution for LED strips has become a critical factor affecting product reliability and application scope.

This article focuses on three mainstream technical solutions—silicone hollow extrusion, silicone sleeves, and plastic sleeves—systematically analyzing core metrics such as waterproof performance, thermodynamic characteristics, and mechanical strength based on material science principles and engineering practice requirements.

By comparing experimental data and industry application cases, it provides objective grounds for technology selection in different scenarios, aiming to help engineering decision-makers establish a scientific product development framework.

Overview of the Three Waterproof Methods

Among waterproof LED strips, three processes are most common: hollow silicone extrusion, silicone sleeves, and plastic sleeves.

Hollow silicone extrusion involves co-extruding the LED strip with a silicone sleeve, where the LED chips are fully encapsulated by solid silicone to form a robust waterproof structure. Silicone sleeve with plastic sleeve involves threading the pre-manufactured light strip into a silicone sleeve, secured by traction to achieve basic waterproofing.

These three methods differ in waterproofing performance, aging resistance, heat dissipation, and cost. How should customers make the right selection? Below, we compare the three technologies based on material properties, manufacturing principles, and practical applications to explore their technical differences and market positioning.

To learn more about LED strip light waterproofing techniques, read the blog posts “¿Cuáles son los procesos de impermeabilización utilizados en las luces de tiras LED?” and “La guía definitiva para las luces de tira de LED impermeables."

Silicone Hollow Extrusion

Waterproof light strips are typically manufactured using extrusion processes, primarily categorized into hollow extrusion and solid extrusion.

Hollow extrusion leaves a void at the core of the extruded strip, while solid extrusion forms the entire strip as a solid structure. Hollow extrusion is more complex, requiring specialized extruders and molds, resulting in higher production difficulty and costs.

Silicone hollow-extruded light strips feature the following characteristics:

• Hollow-extruded strips have an internal air cavity, resulting in low density. The silicone is lightweight, highly flexible, and possesses a degree of softness and elasticity, enabling it to conform to complex curved surfaces. High-transparency pyrolytic silicone is typically used for hollow extrusion, with its high fluidity meeting the demands of thin-walled or intricate cavity structures.

• The hollow interior disperses light from the LED beads more evenly, achieving superior illumination. Hollow extruded strips exhibit brighter, more transparent colors compared to solid extruded strips, with smoother edges.

• Due to air insulation, hollow extruded strips have poorer thermal conductivity. LED operating temperatures are typically 10-15°C higher than solid extruded strips.

• Hollow silicone exhibits relatively lower hardness and chemical corrosion resistance.

• Installation complexity: Hollow extruded strips are lightweight and can be directly adhered, while solid extruded strips require bracket mounting, increasing labor costs by approximately 15%.

• Cost-wise, hollow extruded strips are about 20%-30% cheaper per unit than solid ones but have shorter lifespans (typically 20,000-30,000 hours). Solid extruded strips have higher initial costs but can last over 50,000 hours. Hollow extruded strips can be directly adhered, while solid ones require bracket mounting, increasing labor costs by approximately 15%.

Silicone Sleeve

Silicone sleeve LED strips are waterproof lighting strips featuring flexible silicone material encasing LED bulbs.

The LED strip is threaded through the silicone sleeve, which is then sealed at both ends to prevent water ingress from rain or other sources. Commonly used in architectural outline lighting, commercial decoration, and outdoor landscape projects, it supports bending and deformation to conform to irregular structures.

Features include:

• Flexibility and Formability: The silicone material provides excellent flexibility, allowing the strip to be bent into various shapes. This makes it suitable for curved or complex installations, such as conforming to circular decorations, furniture edges, or art installations to meet creative lighting needs.

• Waterproof and Dustproof Performance: The silicone tubing itself offers high sealing integrity, effectively blocking moisture and dust from entering the strip interior. Many products achieve an IP67 waterproof rating, allowing brief submersion. This makes them particularly suitable for humid environments like bathrooms, kitchens, or outdoor landscape lighting.

• Soft and Even Light: The silicone tube acts as a light diffuser, reducing the glare from LED bulbs to produce softer, more uniform illumination. This characteristic suits spaces requiring a comfortable ambiance, such as bedrooms, dining areas, or decorative lighting in commercial spaces.

• Durability and Safety: Silicone material resists high temperatures and aging, extending the strip’s lifespan. Its insulating properties also enhance electrical safety by reducing risks of short circuits or leakage.

• Wide Temperature Range: Typically operates from -40°C to 200°C, suitable for outdoor and extreme temperature environments.

• Aging Resistance: Material stability withstands oil and ozone exposure, ensuring prolonged service life.

Plastic Sleeve

Plastic sleeve waterproof LED light strips are typically made from high-quality PVC material. They are waterproof, flexible, bendable, and resistant to high and low temperatures, making them suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications.

The sleeve has an internal width of 10mm, allowing for the insertion of 8-10mm SMD or COB light strips as the light source. This provides a protective housing for the LED light strip, ensuring durability and longevity.

PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is the mainstream material for neon strip and LED strip sleeves due to its mature manufacturing processes and cost advantages. For instance, flexible neon strip channels often utilize resilient PVC material that resists cracking when bent.

● Waterproofing & Corrosion Resistance: PVC offers superior waterproofing, effectively blocking moisture vapor, making it suitable for humid environments like bathrooms. It also exhibits good corrosion resistance and some chemical resistance, fitting for general indoor and outdoor settings.

● Easy Installation: Its flexibility allows bending and cutting to adapt to various shapes, while its lightweight nature facilitates construction.

● Durability: Prone to aging and discoloration; prolonged exposure to UV rays or high temperatures may cause yellowing and brittleness, affecting light transmission and aesthetics.

● Limited Temperature Tolerance: PVC has a narrow temperature range (-15°C to 80°C). Prolonged outdoor use may cause yellowing and hardening due to UV exposure. It emits irritating gases when burned, deforms at high temperatures, and may crack at low temperatures, limiting its use in extreme outdoor climates.

● Optical Properties: Light transmittance is only 70%-80%, light tends to appear yellowish, and the color rendering index is low (70-80), resulting in poor color reproduction. Light uniformity is inferior to silicone or acrylic materials, potentially creating a grainy appearance.

● Environmental and Health Concerns: PVC contains harmful substances like vinyl chloride, which may release pollutants during production and use, making it less environmentally friendly.

● Low Cost: PVC is significantly cheaper than alternatives like silicone or acrylic, making it suitable for budget-constrained projects.

Cuadro comparativo

Silicone Hollow Extrusion vs Silicone Sleeve vs Plastic Sleeve

In summary, the materials used in hollow silicone extrusion and silicone sleeve processes are essentially the same, with only certain differences in the manufacturing methods. Extrusion involves direct machine processing, while the sleeve process requires more manual labor.

When comparing LED strips with hollow silicone extruded tubes, silicone sleeves, and PVC sleeves, each has its own characteristics and is suitable for different scenarios. To maximize the effectiveness of LED light strips in diverse applications, selecting the appropriate process and characteristics is essential.

For budget-conscious projects in mild environments, plastic sleeves may be considered, though replacement frequency should be noted. Balancing overall performance and long-term cost, silicone hollow extrusion or silicone sleeves offer superior choices, particularly excelling in waterproofing, temperature resistance, and flexibility.

Scenarios & Selection Guide

Silicone Hollow Extrusion

Ideal for ceiling light coves, under-cabinet lighting, stair railings, and similar applications, it provides both functional illumination and aesthetic appeal. Its soft glow is particularly suited for creating ambiance in bedrooms or living rooms.

Thanks to their waterproof properties, silicone hollow extrusion LED strips can be used for decorative lighting in gardens, pool edges, or building exteriors. They maintain stable operation even in rainy or dusty environments.

Silicone Sleeve

In shops, bars, or exhibition halls, the flexibility and malleability of silicone sleeve light strips make them an ideal choice for decorative lighting. For instance, they can outline the contours of display cases or create unique artistic light installations.

While silicone material is heat-resistant, prolonged high-brightness operation may still cause heat buildup, affecting LED lifespan. Avoid continuous full-load operation in enclosed or poorly ventilated environments.

Plastic Sleeve

Suitable for outdoor lighting projects, PVC sleeve light strips are ideal for short-term decorations, budget-constrained projects, or non-extreme environments (e.g., temporary exhibitions, low-brightness ambient lighting). For long-term use or demanding scenarios (e.g., outdoor settings, high color rendering requirements), silicone material is recommended.

Additionally, note that the aforementioned LED strips are more suitable for warmer climates. In colder regions, LEDs within the sleeve may generate heat during operation.

When external temperatures are low, air and moisture inside the sleeve may oxidize, potentially corroding LEDs or circuit boards or producing a hazy mist that affects light output. For higher performance lighting requirements, solid-extruded options may be preferable.

Cost & Maintenance Considerations

Silicone Hollow Extruded LED Strip Lights: Higher material costs due to the one-piece silicone molding process. Low maintenance expenses. The IP68 waterproof rating minimizes moisture-related failures. Long-term use without frequent replacements. Avoid excessive bending during installation to prevent internal circuit breakage. Suitable for harsh environments like outdoor settings and water features, but requires proper heat dissipation design to prevent accelerated aging from high temperatures.

Silicone Sleeve LED Strip Lights: Wide price range; transparent or dual-color designs affect cost. Moderate maintenance is required—regularly inspect sleeve-to-strip fit to prevent water ingress. Match sleeve size to strip during installation to avoid poor heat dissipation from tightness or compromised waterproofing from looseness. Temperature range: -60°C to 200°C, though prolonged high heat may accelerate silicone yellowing.

Plastic Sleeve LED Strip Lights: Lowest cost, suitable for budget-constrained scenarios. Higher maintenance costs; PVC material ages easily, requiring regular sleeve replacement. Only suitable for dry environments; waterproofing is weaker than silicone solutions (lower IP rating). Avoid contact with chemical solvents to prevent sleeve brittleness and cracking.

Comprehensive Comparison Table:

Recommendation: Prioritize hollow extruded silicone for high-humidity or outdoor settings, balancing waterproofing and durability. For budget-constrained projects in stable environments, plastic sleeves may be used but require shorter maintenance cycles.

Conclusión

This article provides engineering decision-makers with a scientific basis for technical selection by systematically analyzing the material properties, waterproof performance, and heat dissipation capabilities of three types of waterproof LED strips.

SignliteLED specializes in manufacturing waterproof LED strips using various production techniques. If you have questions about your project or application requirements, please contact us for further support!