What are the raw materials for silicone products?

What are the raw materials for silicone products? Silicone products have been widely used in various fields such as daily life, medical care, and industry due to their unique physical and chemical properties. From baby pacifiers to kitchen utensils, from medical catheters to electronic seals, silicone products are everywhere.

1. Core raw material for silicone products: silicone rubber
The main raw material for silicone products is silicone rubber, which is a polymer elastomer formed by alternating silicon and oxygen atoms. Silicone rubber has excellent high and low temperature resistance (can be used for a long time within the range of -60 ℃ to 250 ℃), aging resistance, chemical corrosion resistance, and good biocompatibility. According to the different vulcanization temperatures and vulcanization mechanisms, silicone rubber can be divided into two categories: high-temperature vulcanized silicone rubber (HTV) and room temperature vulcanized silicone rubber (RTV), which are suitable for different processes and application scenarios.
2. Auxiliary raw materials for silicone products: fillers and additives
In addition to the silicone rubber matrix, various fillers and additives need to be added during the production process of silicone products to improve performance. Common fillers include white carbon black (silica), which can enhance the strength, hardness, and wear resistance of silica gel; Calcium carbonate is used to reduce costs and regulate hardness. In terms of additives, vulcanizing agents are the key to promoting cross-linking and curing of silicone rubber, while coloring agents, flame retardants, anti-static agents, etc. are used to endow silicone products with specific functions such as color, fire resistance, or anti-static properties.
3. Production process of silicone products: molding and extrusion
The production of silicone products mainly adopts two processes: compression molding and extrusion molding. Compression molding is the process of placing pre mixed silicone rubber raw materials into molds and vulcanizing them through high temperature and high pressure. It is suitable for products with complex structures and high precision requirements, such as sealing rings, buttons, etc. Extrusion molding is the process of heating and plasticizing silicone rubber raw materials through an extruder, extruding them into continuous profiles through a mold, and then vulcanizing them to obtain the final product. It is commonly used in the production of pipes, strip seals, etc. Both processes have their own advantages and can be flexibly selected according to product requirements.
4. Performance advantages and application areas of silicone products
Silicone products have shown broad application prospects in multiple fields due to their unique performance advantages. Its excellent resistance to high and low temperatures makes it an ideal material for fields such as aerospace and automotive electronics; Good biocompatibility and non-toxic properties make it widely used in the medical field, such as making catheters, artificial organs, etc; In addition, silicone products have the characteristics of easy cleaning, aging resistance, and rich color, and are widely used in kitchen utensils, baby products, toys, and other fields, bringing convenience and safety to people's lives.