Uses of Silicone
Silicone is a heat and water resistant compound found in many products used in everyday life. Some of the most common uses for silicone are:
• Water tight containers: Aquariums and other enclosures that have joints such as shower stalls use a thin bead of silicone to seal the joint.
• Tile, faucet, or other pipe joints: Water pipes, faucets, and counter joints, and tiles are usually sealed with silicone to prevent leaks.
• Automobile Lubricant: Because of its high temperature tolerance silicone is used in brake lubricants in automobiles, as a coating on spark plug wires to insure stay sparks do not ignite, and sheet silicone is often used in making various automotive parts especially surrounding engine or other heated areas.
• Cookware Coatings: A thin base of silicone coating cookware gives it a long durability and non-stick benefits.
• Dry Cleaning Solutions: Silicone is an environmentally friendly chemical that can be used as a dry cleaning solvent.
• Electronics Casings: Silicone is often employed in making casings for various electronic devices due to its ability to shield electrical shocks, vibrations, and radiation.
• Flame Retardants: Silicone bases in materials used in construction can provide excellent fire breaks preventing the spread of flames. It is often used in the manufacture of various materials used to make clothing, furnishings, and even runs in order to give items a fire retardant finish.
• Personal and Common Lubricants: Silicone bases are used in many common lubricants from bike chain oils, spray on lubricants for locks or bolts, and even human sexual lubricants, and lubricants used for medical purposes such as surgery.
• Cosmetic Surgery: Silicone is a well-known component in creating breast implants and it has many other plastic surgery uses as well as standard medical uses from gels to bandages.
• Personal Hygiene: Silicone is used in a variety of personal hygiene products such as shampoo, shaving gels, hair conditioners and gels.
There is an almost endless list of items used on a daily basis in all industries, homes, and personal habits where silicone can be found. It is one of the most useful compounds known to man.
