What is Silicone?
While many of the compounds we see used in manufacturing and other applications come from nature, others are created in laboratories based on theories. One such compound is silicone, which is composed of silicon and oxygen atoms. The bonds they make have to be replicated in a laboratory, but the result is a material that comes in many different forms for use in a variety of applications.
Identification
At the atomic level, silicone can be identified by the basic double bonds occurring between silicon and oxygen atoms. These bonds link together and form chains that vary in length. Depending on the length of these chains, silicone can take various physical shapes or properties. Some silicone is completely liquid, while others are more solid, though they are malleable and rubbery. Silicone is typically gray or clear unless artificial coloring is added, and easy to identify when one knows its atomic nature.
Features
Silicone has a number of different features and properties that make it such a popular material. For one, it is able to withstand temperatures of up to 250 degrees Celsius, and it also water repellent, making it great as a sealant. It is flexible and resists electricity, which makes it a great insulator for electrical cords. Silicone has a very low reactivity rate when it comes into contact with chemicals, and is a non-toxic, work-safe material.
Types
Since silicone refers to any material that has a base of silicon-oxygen double bonds, there are different types that can be manufactured by manipulating the strand of such bonds or adding extra ones. Basic general silicone sticks to almost any surface before drying and is used as a strong sealant. Glazing silicone is created so that it dries clear, making it popular for binding glass. Silicone rubber is tough and flexible and is one of the most popular types of silicone.
Function
Silicone is used often as a sealant or a lubricant, though it can also be shaped into various rubber objects. Silicone lubricants are used in many mechanical objects, from bicycle chains to various automotive parts. Sealants are used to mend gaps or pieces of glass together and to create airtight, waterproof, and heat resistant seals. Silicone rubber is used to make molds that can stand up to extremes in temperatures and be generally tough and durable.
Significance
The importance of silicone in the many applications it is used for comes mainly from the fact that is so resistant to so many things. Both extremely hot and cold temperatures do not alter it, and it can create an airtight seal that is also completely waterproof. These four things are the basics of the significance of silicone. Since it can be made in laboratories with such ease, it is also a cheap material that can be produced regularly and efficiently.
Tags: material that, create airtight, double bonds, oxygen atoms, silicon oxygen, silicon oxygen atoms, Silicone rubber
