Properties:
Silicones exhibit many useful characteristics:
- Low thermal conductivity
- Low chemical reactivity
- Low toxicity
- Thermal stability (constancy of properties over a wide temperature range of −100 to 250 °C).
- Waterproof and form watertight seals.
- Does not stick to many substrates, but adheres very well to others, e.g. glass.
- Does not support microbiological growth.
- Resistance to oxygen, ozone, and UV light.
- Electrical insulation properties. Because silicone can be formulated to be electrically insulative or conductive, it is suitable for a wide range of electrical applications.
- High gas permeability: at room temperature (25 °C), the permeability of silicone rubber for such gases as oxygen is approximately 400 times that of butyl rubber, making silicone useful for medical applications in which increased aeration is desired. Consequently, silicone rubbers cannot be used where gas-tight seals are necessary.
There are many categories of application:
- Electrical (e.g., insulation)
- Electronics (e.g., coatings)
- Household (e.g., sealants for cooking apparatus)
- Automobile (e.g., gaskets)
- Airplane (e.g., seals)
- Office machines (e.g., keyboard pads)
- Medicine/dentistry (e.g., teeth impression molds)
- Textiles/paper (e.g., coatings).
Domestic uses:
As a product that has worked its way into our lives in many different ways:
One example of how this material is used is as a sealant in building construction and maintenance. The sealant are used to take care of joints that are not quite flush, as well as crevices in older buildings where settling has occurred. Silicone sealants are produced in both professional and retail formulas, with silicone caulking compound being a common tool kept on hand by the home owner who prefers to take care of his or her space personally.
Another household use is as grease that is used in plumbing. Silicone grease acts as a lubricant that is often applied to O-rings that are used in kitchen and bathroom faucets, as well as with plumbing valves at junctions where the plumbing runs into the house from the main supply system. The grease helps prevent the rings from drying out and cracking, which would result in costly leaks in the equipment.
fig. 2
Silicone also makes an appearance when it comes to cooking. As a component that is often found in parchment paper (cooking paper), the silicone prevents foods that are baked or broiled on the paper from sticking. Which also use in ironing textile, cook paper can prevent fabric from melting on or sticking on the board.
Cookware
As a low-taint, non-toxic material, silicone can be used where contact with food is required. Silicone is becoming an important product in the cookware industry, particularly bakeware and kitchen utensils.
fig. 3
- Silicone is used as an insulator in heat-resistant potholders and similar items; Silicone oven mitts are able to withstand temperatures up to 260 °C (500 °F), allowing reaching into boiling water.
- Molds for chocolate, ice, cookies, muffins and various other foods.
fig. 4
- Non-stick reusable mats used on baking sheets.
- Other products such as steamers, egg boilers or poachers, cookware lids, pot holders,trivets, and kitchen mats.
fig. 5
Silicone films can be applied to such silica-based substrates as glass to form a covalently bonded hydrophobic coating.
Silicone for Fabrics - Clothing and Coatings
With proven silicone technology, manufacturers worldwide can create fabrics, clothing, and sporting goods that are ideal for today’s active lifestyles. Silicone makes clothing more stylish, comfortable, and easier to care for. It also gives automotive and industrial textiles high-performance capabilities. Many fabrics can be coated or impregnated with silicone to form a strong, waterproof composite.
Silicone fabric finishes bring a wide range of benefits to fashion textiles.
- Add softness
- Reduce shrinkage and improve wrinkle recovery
- Water resistance
- Modify fabric look and feel, provide a jelly or paper touch
- Toughness and heat resistance
- Achieve a permanent crease in trousers
- High-grip properties
- Reduce surface drag
- Breathable, comfortable, and suitable for skin contact.
- For sportswear, silicone coating are strong, durable and resistant to heat, cold moistre, UV rays and fire.
Atex® textile membranes - company for silicon coated glass fibre fabrics.
Atex® from Valmiera Glass UK Ltd is the culmination of hi-tech development - The result is a high-strength, flexible fabric ideal for creating lightweight membrane structures that embrace a new contemporary freedom of form, lightness and ecological appeal.
The Terminal 2 of Heathrow Airport Fig. 6
Fabrics: Atex®, 50 000 sqm
Project architects: LuisVidal & Co
Ceiling solutions: Maffeis Engineering S.p.A.
Year: 2014
photo: http://www.luisvidal.com/
Frank Kim Residence, Los Angeles, United State Fig. 7
Fabrics: Atex® 3000 TRL
Architect: B+U, LLP
Size: 4,300 sqft
Year: 2006
Resources:
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-silicone.htm[Accessed December 2014]
http://www.atex-membranes.com/casestudies/frank__kim_residence,_los_angeles,_united_states[Accessed December 2014]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicone#Terminology_and_history[Accessed December 2014]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicone_rubber[Accessed December 2014]
http://www.dowcorning.com/content/textiles/textilesfashion/Elastomers_for_Fabric_Coating.asp[Accessed December 2014]
http://www.dowcorning.com/content/discover/discovershowcase/textiles.aspx[Accessed December 2014]
Photos references:
Fig.1 Available at:http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-silicone-caulk.htm#caulking-gun-putting-silicone-sealant-to-installing-a-kitchen-si [Accessed December 2014].
Fig.2 Available at:http://www.directindustry.com/prod/itw-spraytec/silicone-greases-37247-433596.html [Accessed December 2014]
Fig.3 Available at:http://archive.feedblitz.com/86966/~4020771 [Accessed December 2014]
Fig.4 Available at:http://strongerich.manufacturer.globalsources.com/si/6008825755617/pdtl/Ice-cube/1078138640/Pistol-shaped-Silicone-Ice-Tray.htm [Accessed December 2014]
Fig.5 Available at:http://www.btlchemical.com/ProductClass-96-1.html [Accessed December 2014]
Fig.6 & Fig.7 Available at:http://www.atex-membranes.com/ [Accessed December 2014]
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-silicone.htm[Accessed December 2014]
http://www.atex-membranes.com/casestudies/frank__kim_residence,_los_angeles,_united_states[Accessed December 2014]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicone#Terminology_and_history[Accessed December 2014]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicone_rubber[Accessed December 2014]
http://www.dowcorning.com/content/textiles/textilesfashion/Elastomers_for_Fabric_Coating.asp[Accessed December 2014]
http://www.dowcorning.com/content/discover/discovershowcase/textiles.aspx[Accessed December 2014]
Photos references:
Fig.1 Available at:http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-silicone-caulk.htm#caulking-gun-putting-silicone-sealant-to-installing-a-kitchen-si [Accessed December 2014].
Fig.2 Available at:http://www.directindustry.com/prod/itw-spraytec/silicone-greases-37247-433596.html [Accessed December 2014]
Fig.3 Available at:http://archive.feedblitz.com/86966/~4020771 [Accessed December 2014]
Fig.4 Available at:http://strongerich.manufacturer.globalsources.com/si/6008825755617/pdtl/Ice-cube/1078138640/Pistol-shaped-Silicone-Ice-Tray.htm [Accessed December 2014]
Fig.5 Available at:http://www.btlchemical.com/ProductClass-96-1.html [Accessed December 2014]
Fig.6 & Fig.7 Available at:http://www.atex-membranes.com/ [Accessed December 2014]
