Silicone gasket Hs Code

Silicone gasket harmonized system code

Product Overview Silicone gaskets classified under HS Code 401693 are precision-engineered sealing components composed primarily of high-purity silicone elastomers. These gaskets exhibit excellent thermal stability, chemical inertness, and elasticity, with typical hardness ranging from 40 to 70 Shore A and operational temperature tolerances between -60°C and +230°C. Manufactured through advanced molding or extrusion processes, they ensure uniform thickness and dimensional accuracy critical for sealing integrity. The HS Code 401693 encompasses vulcanized rubber gaskets of silicone specifically designed for industrial sealing applications. Subcategories within this classification include flat gaskets, O-rings, and custom-molded profiles, each tailored to meet stringent mechanical and environmental resistance requirements. Commercially, these silicone gaskets are extensively utilized across food service equipment, retail refrigeration units, and processing machinery, where compliance with food-grade and sanitary standards is paramount. Their non-toxic, non-reactive properties combined with durability under repeated thermal cycles position them as cost-effective solutions in sectors demanding reliable and hygienic sealing materials. HS Code Classification & Trade Specifications The HS Code 401693 is structured as follows: Chapter 40 covers “Rubber and articles thereof,” Heading 4016 refers to “Other articles of vulcanized rubber,” and Subheading 401693 specifically designates “Gaskets, washers and other seals, of vulcanized rubber other than hard rubber, of silicone.” This classification is justified by the product’s composition (vulcanized silicone rubber) and functional use as a sealing element. Trade professionals typically package these gaskets in moisture-resistant, anti-static polyethylene bags or custom cartons to prevent contamination and deformation during transit. Preservation methods may include desiccants to control humidity levels and temperature-controlled shipping for sensitive grades. Compliance with international quality standards such as ISO 3601 (O-rings) and FDA regulations for food-contact materials is essential to meet import/export requirements. Detailed documentation aligning with WTO guidelines and customs protocols facilitates smooth cross-border transactions and accurate tariff application. Understanding these trade specifications ensures proper classification, valuation, and regulatory adherence in global supply chains involving silicone gaskets under HS Code 401693.

Silicone gasket Chapter Note

1.- Except where the context otherwise requires, throughout the Nomenclature the expression “rubber” means the following products, whether or not vulcanised or hard : natural rubber, balata, gutta-percha, guayule, chicle and similar natural gums, synthetic rubber, factice derived from oils, and such substances reclaimed. 2.- This Chapter does not cover : (a) Goods of Section XI (textiles and textile articles); (b) Footwear or parts thereof of Chapter 64; (c) Headgear or parts thereof (including bathing caps) of Chapter 65; (d) Mechanical or electrical appliances or parts thereof of Section XVI (including electrical goods of all kinds), of hard rubber; (e) Articles of Chapter 90, 92, 94 or 96; or (f) Articles of Chapter 95 (other than sports gloves, mittens and mitts and articles of headings 40.11 to 40.13). 3.- In headings 40.01 to 40.03 and 40.05, the expression “primary forms” applies only to the following forms : (a) Liquids and pastes (including latex, whether or not pre-vulcanised, and other dispersions and solutions); (b) Blocks of irregular shape, lumps, bales, powders, granules, crumbs and similar bulk forms. 4.- In Note 1 to this Chapter and in heading 40.02, the expression “synthetic rubber” applies to : (a) Unsaturated synthetic substances which can be irreversibly transformed by vulcanisation with sulphur into non-thermoplastic substances which, at a temperature between 18 C and 29 C, will not break on being extended to three times their original length and will return, after being extended to twice their original length, within a period of five minutes, to a length not greater than one and a half times their original length. For the purposes of this test, substances necessary for the cross-linking, such as vulcanising activators or accelerators, may be added; the presence of substances as provided for by Note 5 (B) (ii) and (iii) is also permitted. However, the presence of any substances not necessary for the cross-linking, such as extenders, plasticisers and fillers, is not permitted; (b) Thioplasts (TM); and (c) Natural rubber modified by grafting or mixing with plastics, depolymerised natural rubber, mixtures of unsaturated synthetic substances with saturated synthetic high polymers provided that all the above-mentioned products comply with the requirements concerning vulcanisation, elongation and recovery in (a) above. 5.- (A) Headings 40.01 and 40.02 do not apply to any rubber or mixture of rubbers which has been compounded, before or after coagulation, with : (i) vulcanising agents, accelerators, retarders or activators (other than those added for the preparation of pre-vulcanised rubber latex); (ii) pigments or other colouring matter, other than those added solely for the purpose of identification; (iii) plasticisers or extenders (except mineral oil in the case of oil-extended rubber), fillers, reinforcing agents, organic solvents or any other substances, except those permitted under (B); (B) The presence of the following substances in any rubber or mixture of rubbers shall not affect its classification in heading 40.01 or 40.02, as the case may be, provided that such rubber or mixture of rubbers retains its essential character as a raw material : (i) emulsifiers or anti-tack agents; (ii) small amounts of breakdown products of emulsifiers; (iii) very small amounts of the following : heat-sensitive agents (generally for obtaining thermosensitive rubber latexes), cationic surface-active agents (generally for obtaining electropositive rubber latexes), antioxidants, coagulants, crumbling agents, freeze-resisting agents, peptisers, preservatives, stabilisers, viscosity-control agents, or similar special-purpose additives.6.- For the purposes of heading 40.04, the expression “waste, parings and scrap” means rubber waste, parings and scrap from the manufacture or working of rubber and rubber goods definitely not usable as such because of cutting-up, wear or other reasons. 7.- Thread wholly of vulcanised rubber, of which any cross-sectional dimension exceeds 5 mm, is to be classified as strip, rods or profile shapes, of heading 40.08. 8.- Heading 40.10 includes conveyor or transmission belts or belting of textile fabric impregnated, coated, covered or laminated with rubber or made from textile yarn or cord impregnated, coated, covered or sheathed with rubber. 9.- In headings 40.01, 40.02, 40.03, 40.05 and 40.08, the expressions “plates”, “sheets” and “strip” apply only to plates, sheets and strip and to blocks of regular geometric shape, uncut or simply cut to rectangular (including square) shape, whether or not having the character of articles and whether or not printed or otherwise surface-worked, but not otherwise cut to shape or further worked. In heading 40.08 the expressions “rods” and “profile shapes” apply only to such products, whether or not cut to length or surface-worked but not otherwise worked.