What Is Silicone Rubber Made Of

A silicone or polysiloxane are polymers made up of siloxane r 2 si o sir 2 where r organic group.

What is silicone rubber made of. Silicone is a versatile polymer used in elastomers oils greases and caulks among other materials. Silicone rubber is a semi organic synthetic made from sand and alkyl or aryl halides. Its structure always comprises siloxane backbone silicon oxygen chain and an organic moiety bound to the silicon. While silicone rubber looks and feels like organic rubber it has a completely different type of structure than other elastomers.

At the molecular level the silicone rubber polymer is made of a silica and oxygen backbone in contrast to the usual carbon backbone of most polymers. Silicone rubbers are widely used in industry and there are multiple formulations. It is a man made material and has viscoelasticity meaning that it is both viscous and elastic. Silicone rubber is an extraordinary material tough enough to withstand the demands of jet engines and safe enough to use for baby bottle teats.

Its primary ingredient is silica one of the most commonly occurring forms of sand. What is silicone made of. Materials that display viscoelasticity are known generally as rubbers. Silicone rubber is an elastomer rubber like material composed of silicone itself a polymer containing silicon together with carbon hydrogen and oxygen.

Silicones are used in sealants adhesives lubricants medicine cooking utensils and thermal and electrical insulation. Silicone is primarily made of silicon but also includes oxygen hydrogen and carbon. The silicon is then reacted with fossil fuel derived hydrocarbons to create the siloxane monomers alternating silicon oxygen atoms which are bonded together into polymers to form the backbone of the final. A high performance polymer originally developed to insulate electric motors and generators silicone rubber is derived from silicon metal and silica sand.

Here s what you need to know about silicone production.