Silicone Fluid

Silicones are a family of inorganic polymers with Si – O – Si linkage, commonly known as poly(siloxanes). Most petroleum polymers have carbon atoms joined together forming polymeric chain while silicones have silicone atoms joined together with oxygen in between. It covers wide range of products with variety in its applications. One can notice difference  between Silicon and Silicones, as Silicon is a most common element in the earth’s crust and Silicones are synthesized inorganic polymers made out of it. Silicone fluids are generally colorless transparent liquids. They exhibit excellent resistance to heat, cold, and moisture. There is also little viscosity change in silicone fluids over a wide temperature range, and they have outstanding electrical properties. In addition, they are notable for their characteristics of mold-releasability, water repellency, lubricity, and defoaming properties

Features of silicone fluid

Silicones are available in wide range of properties from volatile liquids to soft gels, hard material. Silicones products provide solutions to ordinary and extraordinary problems. They make material stronger, more stable, more resilient, more aesthetically pleasing, easier to use or apply and longer lasting. They help materials perform to the high standards to cope up with consumers expectations. Silicones, being versatile, are high-performance materials which bring real benefits to a wide range of applications. This is primarily because of unusual properties such as thermal and oxidative stability & mild dependence of physical properties on temperature, high degree of chemical inertness, resistance to weathering, good dielectric strength and low surface tension.

Silicones have following physical and chemical characteristics

• Outstanding weathering and aging resistance
• Thermostability
• High water repellency
• Extremely strong adhesion qualities
• Can withstand long-term exposure to the atmosphere
• Resistance to UV and IR radiation
• Extremely low volatility
• Inert (non-reactive with most materials)
• Chemical resistance
• Long-term elasticity, pliability and flexibility
• Excellent electrical insulation
• Tensile strength
• Anti-foaming properties
• Microbial resistance

Uses for silicone fluids

Silicone oil is used in almost all sectors of life few representative examples are as follows

• Additive for cosmetics, personal care, health care products, pharmaceuticals
• Lubricating oil for various mechanical parts
• Additive and release agent in resins, elastomers, rubbers, polymers etc
• Shinning agent for automobile, furniture polish, textile finish
• Industrial cleaners, release agents for various industrial products
• In cooking oil as deep frying
• Paint, coating component