Property and performance modification – the
secret to silicone’s amazing versatility
Silicone chemistry enables the development of incredibly versatile and
adaptable products:
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From rubber flippers for swimming in the ocean to underarm deodorants for
sensitive skin
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From paints and lubricants that can withstand extreme heat, to sealants
that maintain their flexibility in the arctic cold
Open the silicone showcase
to learn more about the many applications for silicone materials.
Why are silicones so adaptable? Because there are so many ways to tailor or
modify their properties and performance abilities!
The silicone material matrix
Every silicone is a unique combination of molecular weight, structure,
functionality, and delivery system. By manipulating these variables, silicone
scientists can create an infinite variety of problem-solving and
innovation-enabling materials.
How silicone scientists create the ideal
material for your application
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Modify the molecular weight and viscosity by changing the degree of
polymerization or by blending different viscosities of silicone fluids
together.
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Give the material a different structure
- make it cyclic, linear, resinous, or crosslinked.
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Add different organic functionalities to create organically
modified silicones - "super" silicones capable of extending
silicone performance to organic substrates and systems.
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React two different silicone
building blocks together.
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Change the delivery system from silicone to aqueous, solvent, compound, or
solid via a variety of finishing
processes.
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Learn more about the different forms of silicone.
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| Did you know ... all silicones are not created
equal. Any two silicone sealants, elastomers, or fluids, for example, can have
very different physical and performance properties, depending on their
functionality, how they are polymerized and finished! |
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Explore your material options
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Get answers
Have a question about how silicones are tailored?
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