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Silicone is a man-made chemical that is put to use in a staggering number of industries and applications.
350 cst
Silicone oils (polymerized siloxanes) are silicon analogues of carbon based organic compounds, and can form (relatively) long and complex molecules based on silicon rather than carbon. Chains are formed of alternating silicon-oxygen atoms (...Si-O-Si-O-Si...) or siloxane, rather than carbon atoms (...C-C-C-C...). Other species attach to the tetravalent silicon atoms, not to the divalent oxygen atoms which are fully committed to forming the siloxane chain. A typical example ispolydimethylsiloxane, where two methyl groups attach to each silicon atom to form (H3C)[SiO(CH3)2]nSi(CH3). The carbon analogue would be an alkane, e.g. dimethylpropane C5H12 or (H3C)[C(CH3)2](CH3).
Silicone oils could be a basis for silicon-based organic life, but their more prosaic, primary uses are as lubricants orhydraulic fluids. They are excellent electrical insulators and, unlike their carbon analogues, are non flammable. Their temperature-stability and good heat-transfer characteristics make them widely used in laboratories for heating baths ("oil baths") placed on top of hotplate stirrers. Silicone oil is also commonly used as the working fluid in diffusion pumps.
Some silicone oils such as simethicone are potent anti-foaming agents. They are used in industrial applications such asdistillation or fermentation where excessive amounts of foam can be problematic. They are sometimes added to cooking oils to prevent excessive frothing during deep frying. Consumer products to control flatus (antiflatulents) often contain silicone oil. Silicone oils used as lubricants can be inadvertent defoamers (contaminants) in processes where foam is desired, such as in the manufacture of polyurethane foam. Silicone oils have been used as a vitreous fluid substitute to treat difficult cases of retinal detachment, such as those complicated with proliferative vitreoretinopathy, giant retinal tears, and penetrating ocular trauma. Silicone oil is also one of the two main ingredients in Silly Putty, along with boric acid.
Silicone is a man-made chemical that is put to use in a staggering number of industries and applications.
The most important features of this fluid include:
• Little change in physical properties over a wide temperature range.
• The fluid can be used from -40°C to 280°C.
• Excellent water repellency.
• Low surface tension. The fluid readily wets clean surfaces to impart waterrepellency and release characteristics.
• Low toxicity.
Applications
1. As a release agent. Used purely or as a part of a compounded formula PCC Silicone oil provides a non-toxic, non-carbonising mould release for rubber, plastics and metal die-castings.
2. As an Anti-Foam agent. Very small quantities of the fluid are very effective as a foam control agent, especially innon aqueous systems.
3. As a mechanical fluid. The very high viscosity-index, the thermal and chemical stability, shear-breakdown resistance and the rubber compatibility as well as the compressibility make this fluid outstanding for mechanical and hydraulic uses.
4. As a lubricant. The fluid provides excellent lubricating properties for most plastic and elastomeric surfaces. Lubricity with metals depends upon the possible combinations such as P.T.F.E., MoS2 and other lubricity improvers.
5. In polishes and chemical specialities. Silicone oil is used in most automobile and furniture polishes for its ease of application, high gloss with a minimum rubbing and durable water repellent film.
6. In electrical and electronic equipment. Because of the excellent dielectric properties silicone oil is widely used as an insulating and damping fluid.