Silicones answer the automotive needs of
today and the challenges of tomorrow.
Silicones are so unique and versatile they are used to solve problems and
improve performance in virtually every automotive system.
Click the  icons and see!
Where the rubber meets the road
Silicones are all around you, improving your driving experience
in diverse and unexpected ways. Silicone joint sealants and waterproofing
chemicals extend the life of roads and bridges. Silicone materials enable
light-emitting diode (LED) traffic signals to shine more brightly. And
silicones in auto care products help you polish and protect your auto
investment.
| Did you know ... a special silicone
“anti-fogging”
treatment for leather can prevent leather auto seats
from releasing oils that leave hard-to-remove deposits
on windscreens and rear windows! |
Why silicone materials excel in automotive
applications
Silicones have unique properties that enable them to thrive in harsh engine
compartment, under-vehicle, weather, and driving conditions:
- They are stable over a wide range of temperatures, from -50 to 200°C (-58
to 392°F) and resistant to thermal shock. This enables flexible joint movement
with excellent sealability.
- Silicones resist moisture, pressure, salt spray, engine fluids, and UV
light.
- They have stable dielectric properties, even at high frequencies.
- Silicones have very low water absorption: 0.1% per weight at room
temperature.
- Silicones have excellent sound and vibration damping capabilities.
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Silicones address consumer needs for improved driving experience. They
enable automakers to meet performance challenges, reduce manufacturing costs,
and differentiate their produces from the competition. Silicones also help them
meet quality standards and emission requirements essential for export.
Learn about other competitive
advantages of silicones.
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Versatile material options
Silicones for automotive applications come in many forms:
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Fluids, elastomers and rubbers, gels, resins, compounds and greases,
dispersions, and silicone/thermoplastic blends
And perform many different functions:
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Air and fluid delivery
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Airbag coating
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Electrical insulation and protection
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Interior and exterior finishes
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Leak prevention
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Light management
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Lubrication
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Plastic and rubber part fabrication
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Polish, cleaner, and tire dressing formulations
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Sealing and bonding
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Sound and vibration damping
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Thermal management
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Did you know ... silicones can lubricate or adhere, repel
water or absorb it, remain rigid in extreme heat or pliable in freezing
cold!
Open the silicone toolbox
to learn more about the many things silicones can be and do.
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Expand your understanding
Easy reading:
Silicones:
Pioneering New Directions for a Mobile Society (PDF size = 364 KB)
Success stories:
Six 1-minute stories about
the problem-solving power of silicones:
- Silicone solves radiator component coolant compatibility and production
issues
- Improved soundproofing with silicone foam
- Airbag safety increased with silicone rubber
- Asbestos replacement in brake linings
- Silicone and the quest for zero-defect functioning in auto electronics
- Replacing traditional coatings with solventless silicone
Imagine your next design with silicone: Tour the Dow Corning Industrial Design Studio.
Learn about silicones from Dow Corning: Visit the
Dow Corning Automotive Solutions website.
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| Sign up for free e-mail updates about silicone materials and technologies from Dow Corning. |
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| Did you know ... silicones help automakers
comply with an entire alphabet of environmental laws and regulations ... RoHS,
EPA, CARB LEV (Low-Emission-Vehicle), WEEE, Euro 4, Euro 5, EU law 1999/13/EC,
and more! |
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