Within the world of materials there are polymers, which have been a fundamental part of our history and are found in a variety of products. Since ancient times, the use of natural polymers such as silk, wool or rubber have given way to durable products with countless applications in all kinds of tasks. Closer to the 20th and 21st centuries, the appearance of synthetic polymers further expanded the range of varieties available to us. Silicone is part of these synthetic materials and is currently very important, being on a par with demanded polymers such as neoprene or polyvinyl butyral. Now, what makes silicone important?
This inorganic polymer-based material is largely made up of oxygen and silicon. This combination results in a material with interesting properties, such as resistance to high temperatures without deforming to the breaking point. Additionally, it is resistant to the environmental conditions offered by the weather, humidity and the influence of solar radiation. It has mechanical, electrical and chemical properties that make it a good electrical insulator, resistant to elongation and tolerant to certain acids or chemical oxidants.
Due to the great variety of combinations that the generation of synthetic materials allows, silicones exist in several presentations and with properties that vary depending on the molecular structure that forms them. The most common that exist at a commercial level are: