Silicone is a substance composed of organic and inorganic polymers, often confused with silicon. It is used in various forms, including oils and resins, to create products such as hard plastics, rubber, gels, and liquids. It is used in household items such as sealants, plumbing grease, and cooking utensils, as well as in breast implants, menstrual cups, and electrical equipment cases. Its uses are expanding over time.
As a product that has made its way into our lives in many different ways, silicone is a substance composed of both organic and inorganic polymers and is created through the application of a specific chemical formula. Often incorrectly referred to as “silicon,” silicone is more correctly identified as polysiloxanes. The word itself is a derivative of ketone, based on the mistaken assumption that dimethylsilicon and dimethylketone would have similar chemical structures, as the formulas shared a number of characteristics.
Essentially, silicone is produced by combining a backbone of inorganic silicon and oxygen with organic side groups that attach to silicon atoms. The number of links or attachments between the organic and inorganic components is what determines the final consistency of the product. Various forms are generally classified into two different groups, known as silicone oils and resins. With this family of materials, end products can take on consistencies as diverse as hard plastics, rubber, gels, and liquids. There are many examples of silicone products that most of us have in our homes.
An example of how this material is used is as a sealant in building construction and maintenance. Sealants are used to cure joints that are not quite flush, as well as cracks in older buildings where settlement has occurred. Silicone sealants are produced in both professional and retail formulas, with silicone caulk being a common tool kept on hand by the homeowner who prefers to take care of their space personally.
Another household use is as a grease used in plumbing. Silicone grease acts as a lubricant that is often applied to O-rings used in kitchen and bathroom faucets, as well as with plumbing valves at the joints where plumbing enters your home from the main supply system. The grease helps prevent the rings from drying out and cracking, which would lead to costly equipment leaks.
Silicone also makes an appearance when it comes to cooking. As a component often found in parchment paper, silicone prevents foods cooked or roasted on the paper from sticking, such as biscuits, bacon strips or chicken breasts. Also, some of the non-stick sprays used today have silicone as one of the ingredients, allowing the cook not to have to use oils or grease to prevent sticking. This type of rubber also shows up in the kitchen in the form of spatulas, serving and mixing spoons, and even plastic cheese knives.
This material also has a number of uses outside the home, such as in breast implants, menstrual cups, electrical equipment cases, and even firestops used in the ignition process. As time goes on, the number of ways this valuable compound can be used will no doubt continue to expand.
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