Silicon, a hard gray solid, is used to make integrated circuits ("electronic chips") and solar cells. In contrast, silicones, which tend to be electrical insulators, are often colorless oils or rubbery resin.
Silicone, any of a diverse class of fluids, resins, or elastomers based on polymerized siloxanes, substances whose molecules consist of chains made of alternating silicon and oxygen atoms. Silicones have a wide range of commercial applications, from lubricating greases to biomedical implants.
Silicone is available in many different forms to suit a broad array of end-use applications. Learn more about the types of silicone here.
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Silicone is a stable, manmade polymer used in many everyday items, like insoles and deodorant. Silicone was first studied by Frederic Kipping and later used in electrical insulation in the 1930s. Different types of silicone have various uses, such as oils in cosmetics or rubbers in electronics.
Learn about the differences between silicone, silicon, and silica, and why food-grade silicone and liquid silicone are now safer options for the environment, technology, cooking utensils, and more.
“Silicone” is a generic term referring to a class of synthetic polymers that are based on a framework of alternating silicon and oxygen (siloxane) bonds with at least one organic group attached to the silicon atom via a direct carbon-silicon bond.
Silicone is also widely used in products that could save our lives including respiratory masks, IV’s, and other critical medical and healthcare devices. In this guide, we discuss its uses and how it compares to silicon and plastic.