SILICONES

Silicones, also referred to as polysiloxanes, are synthetic polymers featuring a silicon-oxygen backbone akin to silicon dioxide, supplemented with additional organic groups. In contrast to analogous carbon-based polymers, these compounds manifest a distinctive blend of physical and chemical attributes, owing to the remarkable physicochemical nature of the siloxane (-Si-O-) bond. Silicone-containing copolymers and networks with silicone modifications exhibit remarkable backbone flexibility and notably low glass transition temperatures (Tg), hovering around −120 °C. They also showcase commendable thermal and oxidative stability, heightened gas permeability, superb dielectric properties, biocompatibility, and minimal surface tension.

Categorization of Silicones

Silicone Copolymers and Homopolymers

Silicone Oils   CLASSIFICATION OF SILICONES

Our assortment of silicone (polysiloxane) polymers showcases a diverse array of silicone material characteristics, falling into the categories of fluids, elastomers, or resins. Polymers with moderate molecular weights are classified as fluids, while slightly cross-linked polymers with elevated molecular weights take on elastomeric properties. Low molecular weight resins incorporate functional groups, often hydroxyl, alkoxy, or chloro groups, which engage in hydrolysis and/or condensation to form intricately cross-linked structures.

The prevalent applications of our fundamental silicone products span several areas within material science, including:

Employment of silicone elastomers, like polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), for patterned stamps in soft lithography and nano-patterning endeavors

Use as dielectric materials for electrostatic actuators and dielectric energy harvesting applications

Utilization in encapsulation and packaging of electronic devices

Application as agents for modifying surface properties in microfluidic contexts

SILICONE COPOLYMERS AND HOMOPOLYMERS

Silicone co- and homopolymers yield hydrophobic surfaces with minimal water absorption, primarily finding use in the formulation of lubricants, foams, and polymeric adhesives.

The silicones within our inventory exhibit:

Substituents that are non-reactive, capable of fine-tuning mechanical and thermal-mechanical traits (e.g., glass transition temperature)

Reactive substituents and terminal groups allowing for chemical modification, including crosslinking

Diverse ranges of molecular weights and viscosity levels.

SILICONE OILS

Our product range encompasses silicone oils (or silicone fluids), encompassing liquid polymerized siloxanes endowed with organic side chains. These substances display greater thermodynamic stability than other siloxanes due to a highly polarized Si‐O‐Si bond featuring substantial bond energy. Silicone fluids boast enhanced structural flexibility, permeability, and lubricity, attributable to freely rotating methyl groups and weak intermolecular attractive forces. Additionally, they exhibit exceptional wetting and film-forming qualities due to lowered surface tension. These fluids are odorless, non-toxic, water-repellent, chemical-resistant, and UV-resistant.

Our assortment offers a diverse selection of silicone oils spanning a spectrum of viscosities, ranging from 5 c St (or 5 mPa∙s) to 100,000 c St (or 100,000 mPa∙s) at 25 ˚C. These silicone oils prove valuable in thermal management, functioning as heating and cooling fluids. When integrated into water/oil systems, our siloxanes engender stable emulsions of microdroplets, widely utilized in DNA and blood analysis, chemical reactions, drug discovery, ink formulations, cosmetics, textiles, and home care products.