Perhaps the most beneficial application of silicone materials is its use in adhesives, coatings, and sealants. Because of silicone’s flexibility, wear and environmental resistance, and thermal stability, it’s used in a variety of buildings and products we use every day.
In construction, silicone helps insulate buildings from the elements. It helps improve energy efficiency and maintain comfortable temperatures for both people and machinery. Additionally, silicone’s use as a coating helps buildings, roads, and bridges retain structural integrity and resist corrosion.
In electronics, its use as an adhesive and protective coating for circuit components enables the functioning of high-tech equipment such as smartphones and computers.
Without silicone, many products and structures we’re accustomed to today may not be possible.
The components of silicone that make it useful are the Si-O bonds and organic groups that bond to the silicon within the molecule. It is Si-O bonds that allow for silicone’s material properties such as excellent heat resistance, environmental stability, and chemical & wear resistance.
Possible organic groups within silicones include methyl, phenyl, and vinyl. Silicone’s properties depend on the choice of this organic group. For example, silicones containing the methyl group exhibit the characteristics of excellent heat resistance, environmental stability, and chemical & wear resistance. Meanwhile, the presence of both methyl and phenyl groups can make silicones perform better in low-temperature environments.
Industries such as construction commonly use silicone. Industrial coatings, adhesives & sealants, and offshore drilling are typical uses and applications. Silicones are also commonly found in cosmetics, consumer goods, and electronics.
Yes. Silicone is beneficial to several industries and provides substantial socioeconomic benefits to the world. Without silicone, many homes and businesses would be uncomfortable and hot; also many everyday products and devices would simply not exist.
Yes. Silicones are suitable for a wide range of applications due to their unmatched flexibility and thermal and environmental stability. Possible applications of silicone are seemingly endless – from freezing to sweltering temperatures, from underwater to outer space.
For more information, see our guide on the properties of silicone.