You think you know silicone!
When we think of silicones, many of us think of sealants or rubber. But few
of us understand how many amazingly different things silicones can be
engineered to do.
| You know silicones are ... |
Hydrophobic
(water repellent, water insoluble) Example: Penetrating water repellents
for concrete |
Liquids
Example: Low-viscosity, high-molecular-weight polymers |
Antifoams or Defoamers
Example: Silicone antifoams used to
prevent foam when agricultural chemicals are mixed with water |
Clear
Example: Gels and fluids for
formulating clear antiperspirants and conditioning shampoos |
Resist Heat
(able to operate at temperatures in
excess of 538°C (1,000°F) Example: Silicone resins for high-temperature
protective coatings |
Durable Films
Example: Weatherproof coatings that
protect buildings from moisture damage for many years |
Insulate
(have excellent dielectric properties)
Example: High-voltage silicone rubber composite insulators for electric
power lines |
Release Agents
Example: Release coatings for peel-off
labels |
Lubricious
Example: Textile treatments that
improve loft (fluffiness) by enabling fibers to slip easily past one
another |
Nonvolatile
(durable)
Example: Silicones for formulating long-lasting car polishes |
Incompatible with Organics
(enable the creation of layered films; deliver the unique properties of silicone without altering the properties of the organic)
Example: When linear polydemethylsiloxane (PDMS) is combined with organic materials, the silicone "coats" the organic material, masking its negative tactile properties with a pleasant silicone feel
|
Glossy or Shiny
Example:
- Silicones with refractive indices of 1.4 or less increase gloss
and dept of gloss; when used in car and furniture polishes they more
clearly reveal and enhance the appearance of the surface
- Silicones with refractive indices of 1.5 or more add shine; when
used in hair care products, they call attention to the light being
reflected from the surface of the hair
|
Flexible Cured Films
Example: Release coatings for pressure sensitive adhesives
another |
Thin Films
(low tactile impact)
Example: Low-viscosity polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) creates thin, films that flow easily over other incompatible ingredients, masking their negative
properties |
Linear Molecular Structures
Example: Linear polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymer |
Non-Polar
(insoluble in water; attracted to negatively charged substrates)
Example: Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) water repellents |
Soft, Smooth, Silky
Examples: Silicone conditioners for fabric, skin, and hair care products fill irregularities, making surfaces feel and appear smoother. |
Alcohol Insoluble
Example: Higher-viscosity (above 10 cs) polydimenthylsiloxane (PDMS) fluids used as conditioners in alcohol-based hairsprays; these fluids are also used in furniture polishes to protect lacquer finishes from rings and damage caused by alcoholic beverages |
Gas Permeable
(breathable)
Examples: Waterproofing textile treatments and construction coatings that prevent water molecules from entering but allow water vapor to escape |
Soluble in Aliphatic Hydrocarbons
(disperses easily)
Example: Both personal care and industrial product formulators dilute polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) in aliphatic hydrocarbons; the hydrocarbons evaporate, leaving a thin film of viscous silicone behind |
Industrial Grade
Examples: Oil/water demulsifiers used to separate oil from water in oil and gas refineries; silicone fuel and lubricant additives |
|
| But did you know they can also be ... |
Hydrophilic
(water absorbing, water soluble)
Example: Silicone polyethers make bath towels both soft and absorbent |
Solids
Examples: Low-molecular-weight resins and alkyl methyl siloxane waxes |
Foam Stabilizers or Pro-Foamers
Example: Silicone surfactants used to manufacture polyurethane foam for furniture cushions and bus seats |
Pigmented
Examples: Silicone rubbers and sealants pigmented to match today's trendiest colors for construction and consumer goods |
Conduct Heat
(transmit or dissipate heat)
Example: Silicone thermal greases |
Transient Films
Example: Conditioning agents that do not build up on hair |
Conduct Electricity
(offer reliable conductivity)
Example: Conductive silicone die attach adhesives |
Adhesives
Example: Silicone pressure sensitive adhesives for industrial labels and tapes and product assembly |
Tacky
Example: Substantivity aids that help hold the pigments in color cosmetics, like lipsticks and eye shadows, to the skin |
Volatile
(transient)
Example: Cyclic silicone solvents that clean without leaving a residue |
Compatible with Organics
(soluble in organics; make organic materials more silicone-like)
Example: Blending cyclic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with mineral oil makes the oil easier to spread and gives it a less greasy feel |
Dull
Example: Certain silicone paint additives can reduce the shininess of the paint surface, imparting a dull mat finish |
Rigid Cured Films
Example: Corrosion-resistant films; paint additives that improve the durability of the paint film |
Thick Films
((high tactile impact)
Example: Silicone greases, gels, and silicone gum blends create thicker films that can fill and hide irregularities in substrates |
Branched or Three-Dimensional Structures
Example: Silicone crosslinker or resin |
Polar
(water soluble; attracted to positively charged substrates)
Examples: Powders and pigments treated with silicone polyethers disperse easily in water; aminofunctional siloxanes are attracted to hair and paint |
Hard, Rough, Tacky
Example: Silicone traction fluids used to coat screws or bolts to keep them firmly fastened and prevent them from coming loose; the sealing and corrosion protection capabilities of silicones are especially important in these applications |
Alcohol Soluble
Example: Cyclic and low-molecular-weight linear silicones used in hair sprays to reduce surface tension and improve wetting and spreading of the organic resin over the hair, which increases hold |
Gas Impermeable
Example: Silicone elastomers used to fabricate auto turbocharger hoses |
Insoluble, Solvent Resistant
Example: Silicone resins for industrial-strength protective coatings |
Food-Grade and Medical Grade
Examples: Food-contact approved greases, elastomers, emulsions, compounds, and fluids for use in food and beverage processing plants; silicone excipients for drug delivery and antifoams for pharmaceutical manufacturing; silicone rubber tubing for the fabrication of medical devices |
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| | Did you know
... by changing the size or structure of the silicone molecule or by
adding different compounds to it, you can enhance
or change the way it behaves! | |
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