Silicon is the second abundant element on Earth.It derived products are widely used in various fields. From small automotive parts to aerospace silicone applications. So how was silicone discovered?How to develop a variety of silicone products? This article will introduce the development stages and applications of silicone at different times. Help you have a clear understanding of silicone.
Early Exploration and Theoretical Foundations
As early as the Stone Age, people had begun to use silicon-containing stones and quartz to make tools. However, under the conditions at that time, these tools were basically used for self-protection and survival purposes.
It was not until the discovery of silicon that people found that silicon and carbon belong to the same group in the periodic table. Scientists expect silicon to replace carbon. However, in later experiments, it was confirmed that this would not work.
In 1823, the Swedish chemist Jöns Jackob Berzelius achieved the separation of silicon. He extracted silicon by heating a large amount of potassium.After the material had fully burned, he discovered silicon tetrachloride – the raw material used in today’s silicone products. In 1854, Henri Sainte Claire Deville discovered crystalline silicon.
Subsequently, Frederick Stanley Kipping conducted systematic chemical research on organosilicon. Kipping first synthesized the first siloxane polymer in 1901.At the experiment period, he fully realized the properties of polymers. However, the polymer is still a low-molecular-weight, viscous oily substance. He named this substance silicone.He is also known as the father of silicon chemistry.
Kipping’s study laid a theoretical foundation for silicification. However,at that time, he thought the substance had no practical use or potential for development.
The Birth and Commercialization of Silicone
In the 1830s, Dr. James Franklin Hyde combined the advantages of glass and plastic. And he successfully achieved a more practical and stable method for synthesizing organosilicon polymers. This new type of insulating material has huge commercial potential, and they have mastered how to commercially produce this silicone.
In 1942, Dow Corning Corporation applied for a patent for this material. They apply this material to electrical insulation by impregnating and coating glass cloth.Since then, this material has been widely used in the development of quartz glass, telecommunications, and aerospace. These products are still in use today.
At the same period, Eugene George Rochow and Richard Gustav Muller each found different methods for the industrial synthesis of silicone compounds. Rochow’s approach promotes the realization of high-efficiency and low-cost production. This method is also known as the Direct Process or Rochow Process. It has solved the problem of large-scale production. This provides the possibility for large-scale industrial production of siloxane.
In 1943, the world’s first company was established to develop silicone materials and commercialize them. Meanwhile, the outbreak of World War II created a huge amount of demand.Military products are urgently looking for a material that can achieve high performance insulation, high temperature resistant sealing, and protect engine components. And silicone precisely meets these demands. Military applications accelerate the research and development and large-scale production of silicone materials.
The Golden Age: Silicone’s Widespread Adoption
In this period, more engineering research and development teams joined Silicon Chemistry.They invented many new types of silicone, completely changing the application range of the old silicone.
Room-Temperature Vulcanizing Silicone(RTV Silicone)
They developed a One-Component Silicone Rubber Sealant. This product can be cured by being exposed to the air. Two-Component Silicone Rubber has also been developed. This product requires the mixture of two components of silicone for use.
This product has promoted the application of silicone in fields such as construction, automobiles, and mold manufacturing.
High-Strength Peroxide Curing System
They used peroxide as a vulcanizing agent and molded it at high temperatures. The silicone rubber products manufactured in this way have excellent tear resistance and high tensile strength. This method can produce durable silicone rubber components, such as silicone tubes,silicone O rings,silicone buttons,silicone gaskets,and more.
High-Strength Platinum-Catalyzed Addition Curing System
This vulcanization system uses a platinum catalyst for chemical reactions, thereby achieving a curing effect. The products cured by this system have no by-products. Moreover, the silicone products produced are odorless, highly transparent and have low shrinkage. Therefore, these products can be applied in the fields of electronic products and medical care.
Refining and Specialization
From 1980 to 2000, scientists developed more new types of silicone, promoting its application in a wider range of fields. At the same time, further research was also implemented on the safety and standards of silicone.
At this point, silicone products have been applied as materials for implant prostheses in the medical field.However, the safety of implants has been questioned. The medical community and materials scientists have studied further research on the bio-compatibility of silicone. The disputes and doubts emerged during this period. It has driven the formulation of strict material standards and higher production requirements for purity. Long-term clinical trials are also being implemented simultaneously. Medical-grade silicone has become safer.
Scientists also developed liquid silicone rubber(LSR) during this time. This silicone rubber uses precise injection molding technology. It has a low viscosity. This technology enables the rapid and large-scale production of precise and complex silicone parts. For example, medical device components, baby products, etc.
Modern Silicone Applications
Since the 21st century, the development and application of silicone have reached a new level. Based on the lack of wear resistance of silicone,scientists developed silicone products that can repair themselves after damage. This type of product is applied to wearable devices and robots. It can extend the silicone service life and reduce the cost of product replacement and maintenance.
The silicone can’t be biodegradable. If waste silicone is not properly handled, it can also cause white pollution. Therefore, scientists extract silicon from renewable resources to promote sustainable development and protect the natural environment.
Besides, the development of 3D printing technology has prompted the production of silicone that can be used for 3D printing. Printing technology can achieve free molding of silicone structures, providing new possibilities for customized silicone products. And it greatly reduces the limitations of traditional silicone product manufacturing.
Conclusion
From the silicon discovery, laying the theoretical foundation to the continuous application and innovation, silicone materials play a key role in the development of production. It has been constantly achieving pioneering innovative development and application. We provide a wide range of silicone products suitable for various industry fields. If you are interested in the application of silicone products, please feel free to contact us.
FAQ
Is silicone the same as silicone rubber?
Silicone and silicone rubber are not exactly the same. Silicone is a general term in chemistry. It refers to all high-molecular polymers consisting of silicon and oxygen. It has various forms, such as liquid, elastomer, resin-like, etc. Silicone rubber usually refers to vulcanized silicone. Silicone rubber is a solid material with high elasticity. Things like baby pacifiers and phone cases are silicone rubber.
How should silicone be cleaned and disinfected?
Silicone is easy to clean.You can choose to use clean water to rinse, can also use a mild detergent cleaning, such as detergent lotion. Most products can also be washed in the dishwasher. For specific products, please check their labels for confirmation. If you need to disinfect baby products, the most accurate disinfection method is to use boiling water for disinfection. Other silicone products can also be considered for steam disinfection and microwave disinfection methods. When cleaning, you should make sure to clean the silicone products and sharp objects separately to avoid damaging the silicone products.
Is silicone the same as silica gel?
Silicone and silica gel are two different substances. Silicone is an organic polymer, and its main component is polysiloxane, which contains elements such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and silicon. Silica gel is an inorganic substance, and its main component is silicon dioxide. Silica gel is often used as a desiccant. It has a porous structure and is usually transparent. It has no elasticity and can be used to absorb moisture.
Is silicone the same as plastic?
Silicone is completely different from plastic. The fundamental difference between them lies in the molecular chain.The molecular chain of plastic is mainly carbon.silicone mainly consists of silicon and oxygen to form molecular chains.The stability of silicone is much better than plastic. Silicone can withstand a wide range of temperatures. Though at high temperatures, silicone still keeps its flexibility and elasticity, while many plastics will become soft, decompose and crack.Besides, silicone low temperature resistance and aging resistance and other properties are far more than plastic.
Is silicone environmentally friendly? Can it be biodegradable?
Silicone is very stable. Because of its durability and long service life, we usually consider it environmentally friendly.However, the recovery of silicone is faced with many difficulties.In the natural environment,silicone is hard to degrade, but it will not release harmful substances. Therefore, other recycling methods can be used for silicone. If you choose a physically recycled method, the recycled silicone can only be used for low-end products. If you chemically recycle waste silicone, this recycling method usually needs a high cost. Therefore, from the perspective of recycling, the environmental friendliness of silicone is not high.
What is the temperature limit for silicone? Does it burn?
Generally speaking, the safe use range of silica gel is -60℃-250℃. In the short term, silicone can withstand higher temperatures. If the temperature exceeds this range, the silicone will not melt immediately. It will gradually lose its elasticity, become hard and brittle.
Silicone is not fire resistant, but it is flame retardant.Silicone usually burns itself out when it leaves flame. Therefore, it is often used as an insulating material. If silicone is exposed to extremely high temperatures, the burned silicone will turn into white ashes. It won’t produce toxic black smoke.
Is the use of silicone in the medical field completely safe?
In general, medical grade silicone is safe. The application of silicone in the medical field has sparked controversy over autoimmune diseases, causing great panic. But in fact, there is no causal relationship between the two. It was found that there was a connection between silicone and lymphoma.But this was related to specific products and production standards. Silicone is a hypoallergenic material, but it is not completely non-allergenic. This is a matter of probability. The majority of medical silicone products are safe.
