What is silicone?
The difference between silicon, silica and silicone. Silicon is the second most abundant element in the earth’s crust, comprising around 28% of it. It is not found in its elemental form but occurs mainly as oxides and silicates. In contrast to carbon, silicon-silicon bonds are uncommon. Natural silicon-carbon bonds are extremely rare but they can be created synthetically. Silica is a three dimensional network of silicon dioxide, most commonly encountered as sand. Silica exists in crystalline and amorphous forms. Silica is chemically resistant at ordinary temperatures but can undergo a variety of transformations at high temperatures (greater than 500C) and pressures. The industrial production of amorphous silica requires temperatures of 500C and much higher temperatures are required to produce crystalline silica. The prolonged inhalation of crystalline silica dust is associated with silicosis. Amorphous silica is much less pathogenic than crystalline forms. Conversion of amorphous to cr
Silicone is derived from silicon, a semi-metallic or metal-like element that in nature combines with oxygen to form silicon dioxide, or silica. Beach sand, crystals, and quartz are silica. Silica is the most common substance on earth. Heating silica with carbon at a high temperature can produce silicon. Further processing can convert the silicon into a long chemical chain, or polymer, called silicone – which can be a liquid, a gel, or a rubbery substance. Various silicones are used in lubricants and oils, as well as in silicone rubber. Silicone can be found in many common household items, such as polishes, suntan and hand lotion, antiperspirants, soaps, processed foods, waterproof coatings, and chewing gum.
As a product that has worked its way into our lives in many different ways, silicone is a substance that is composed of both organic and inorganic polymers, and is created by the application of a specific chemical formula. Often incorrectly referred to as “silicon,” silicone is more correctly identified as polysiloxanes. The word silicone itself is a derivative of ketone, based on the incorrect assumption that dimethylsilicon and dimethylketone would have similar chemical structures, since the formulas shared a number of characteristics. Essentially, silicone is produced by the combination of an inorganic silicon and oxygen backbone with organic side groups that attach to the silicon atoms. The number of links or attachments between the organic and inorganic components is what determines the final consistency of the silicone product. Various forms of silicone are usually categorized into two different groups, known as silicone oils and silicone resins. With the family of silicone mater
Silicone is derived from silicon, a semi-metallic or metal-like element that in nature combines with oxygen to form silicon dioxide, or silica. Beach sand, crystals, and quartz are silica; in fact, silica is the most common substance on earth. Heating silica with carbon at a high temperature can produce silicon. Further processing can convert the silicon into a long chemical chain, or polymer, called silicone which can be a liquid, gel, or rubbery substance.
