What Are Silicones?
Silicones are Polymers with siloxane as a monomer. It is a chain of hydrogen, carbon, and silicon atoms that alternately combine with oxygen and silicon atoms. Silicone is also known as polysiloxane which is a polymer made up of siloxane. Silicones are used in countless applications that promote safety and well-being in daily life. They are widely utilized in a variety of industrial and consumer applications.
Sources of Silicone
The main sources of silicone are
- Natural – Origin Silica Sone (SiO2)
- Water
- Natural Gas – Drived Methanol
From these materials, through complex chemical reactions, silicone is synthesized.
Silicones Structure
Silicones are a family of synthetic polymers that are composed of repeating units of silicon, oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen atoms. The basic structure of silicones consists of a chain of alternating silicon and oxygen atoms, with organic groups attached to the silicon atoms. The most common organic groups used in silicones are methyl (CH₃) and phenyl (C₆H₅).
Silicones
Silicones are a diverse family of synthetic polymers made up of Siloxane repeating units. Siloxane is a monomer that consists of silicon, oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen atoms. Silicones are colorless and rubber-like substances. They have a wide range of applications due to their unique combination of properties, including flexibility, heat resistance, low toxicity, and water repellency.
In this article, we will learn what are silicones, their sources, structure, formula, preparation, and applications along with their environmental implications.
Table of Content
- What Are Silicones?
- Silicone Formula
- Properties of Silicones
- Preparation of Silicones
- Applications of Silicones