Silicone is derived from silicon minerals, which are ground into silica sand and then refined to produce silicon dioxide. It is a highly active adsorbent material. Silicone is insoluble in water and any solvents, odorless, non-toxic, and chemically stable. It does not react with most substances except for strong alkalis and hydrofluoric acid.
Silicone is manufactured in different ways, resulting in various structural characteristics. Its key features include: high adsorption capacity, excellent thermal stability, stable chemical properties, and high mechanical strength. Due to its waterproof and insulating properties, silicone is ideal for industrial applications such as sealing and pressing, ensuring product stability.
In terms of temperature resistance, silicone can withstand temperatures ranging from -40°C to 230°C. Additionally, because it is non-toxic, it is especially suitable for use in the food industry and biomedical fields.
Da Feng Silicone Manufacturer is a professional silicone manufacturer specializing in custom silicone development. The silicone materials used meet food-grade standards, and our food-grade silicone products are tested by Taiwan SGS. We offer professional silicone OEM services for our clients.
Composition of Raw Silicone Materials
Silicon is the second most abundant element on Earth’s surface, comprising nearly 28% of the Earth’s crust, after oxygen. Its primary component is silicon dioxide, which serves as a critical base material for producing high-purity metallic silicon.
How Is Silicone Extracted?
First, metallic silicon is extracted from silicon ore and is considered industrial-grade silicon. This industrial-grade silicon undergoes further refinement to produce chemical-grade silicon, which is then further refined to yield electronic-grade silicon. Electronic-grade silicon, used to manufacture semiconductors, is presented in high-purity forms (polysilicon or single-crystal silicon), with extremely high processing standards. (Industrial-grade silicon purity < Chemical-grade silicon purity < Electronic-grade silicon purity)
What is Silicone?
Silicone, derived from organic silicon, is primarily composed of amorphous silicon dioxide, which gives it its distinctive properties Silicone was first developed in 1943 by Dow Chemical and Corning Glass through their joint venture, Dow Corning Company. The material’s exceptional properties, such as:
- Electrical insulation
- Waterproofing
- Heat resistance
- UV radiation protection
- Non-toxicity
Applications of Silicone
Silicone is used extensively across multiple sectors due to its thermal stability and chemical resistance. It serves as a key material in industries like:
- Aerospace
- Advanced technologies
- Military applications
- Civilian sectors such as:
- Construction
- Electronics
- Automotive
- Textiles
- Machinery
- Leather and paper production
- Chemicals and pharmaceuticals
- Medical devices
- Food processing
What is Organic Silicon?
Organic Silicon is a compound formed by the combination of silicon and carbon elements. It contains carbon-silicon bonds that allow it to bond with other organic materials, enabling it to produce various silicon- carbon compounds, such as silicone resins and polymers.
Uses of Organic Silicon:
- Cosmetics: Found in products due to its anti-corrosion, anti-oxidation, and antibacterial properties.
- Medical: Utilized in medical products for similar reasons.
What is Food-Grade Silicone?
Food-grade silicone is safe for direct contact with food, offering non-toxicity, environmental safety, and pollution-free properties. It must adhere to stringent safety standards to ensure its reliability.
Safety Requirements for Food-Grade Silicone:
- Raw materials used for food-grade silicone must meet certifications from SGS, CTI, and other recognized institutions.
- It must comply with international standards like FDA and LFGB.
Common food-grade silicone products include:
- Silicone gifts
- Household products
- Kitchenware (e.g., silicone spatulas, baking mats)
- Water dispensers
- Coffee machine tubing
- Baby bottle straws
- Food-grade silicone bowls, spoons, straws, etc.
Understanding 2 Types of Silicone: Organic and Inorganic
Silicone is a versatile material widely used in various industries, and it can be classified into two primary types based on its composition: organic silicone and inorganic silicone. Each type has distinct characteristics, applications, and advantages, making them suitable for different uses.
Organic Silicone
Organic silicone refers to a class of compounds where silicon atoms are chemically bonded with organic molecules, creating a unique composite material. This combination of organic and inorganic elements gives organic silicone a range of properties that are difficult to achieve with other materials. Essentially, organic silicone combines the best features of both organic and inorganic substances, making it incredibly versatile.
One of the most notable characteristics of organic silicone is its high-temperature resistance, allowing it to withstand both extreme heat and cold. It also excels in weather resistance, meaning it can endure prolonged exposure to harsh environmental conditions without deteriorating. Organic silicone is widely known for its electrical insulation properties, making it ideal for use in electronic components and devices. Moreover, it is ozone resistant, water-repellent, and flame-retardant, adding to its appeal in industrial applications.
Another critical advantage of organic silicone is its nontoxic nature and corrosion resistance, which makes it suitable for use in medical and food-related products. Additionally, certain varieties of organic silicone are oil-resistant, solvent-resistant, and even radiation-resistant, further broadening its range of applications. Compared to other high-performance polymers, organic silicone’s outstanding dielectric properties and physiological inertness set it apart, making it an ideal choice for industries requiring durability and long-term reliability.
Inorganic Silicone
On the other hand, inorganic silicone, often referred to as silicon dioxide or silica, is a material derived from natural minerals. Inorganic silicone is typically produced from sodium silicate and sulfuric acid, which, after undergoing various processing methods, results in an amorphous product commonly used as a highly active adsorbent.
The unique structure of inorganic silicone is one of its key features. Its spongy-like formation, consisting of interconnected micro-pores, creates an immense surface area that makes it excellent at absorbing and holding moisture. This property makes inorganic silicone ideal for use in applications requiring moisture absorption, such as in desiccants or drying agents.
In addition to its adsorption capabilities, inorganic silicone has a relatively low surface tension, which makes it effective in a variety of industrial applications where it must interact with other materials. This makes it an essential component in products like silica gels and other adsorbent materials used in packaging and pharmaceutical industries.
The production of inorganic silicone involves refining naturally occurring minerals, followed by a series of processing steps such as washing, drying, and chemical treatments. This ensures that the final product is highly efficient in its intended applications.
Key Differences and Applications
The key difference between organic silicone and inorganic silicone lies in their chemical structure and properties. Organic silicone, with its high thermal resistance, weather durability, and non-toxic nature, is ideal for use in medical, food, and industrial applications where performance under extreme conditions is crucial. In contrast, inorganic silicone, with its high adsorptive capacity and moisture retention properties, is more commonly used in applications like desiccants, drying agents, and adsorbent materials.
Both types of silicone have unique advantages, and understanding their properties helps industries choose the most suitable type for specific needs. Whether it’s the versatility and durability of organic silicone or the efficient moisture control provided by inorganic silicone, both materials play crucial roles across a wide range of sectors, from aerospace to pharmaceuticals.
Types of Silicone Materials and Their Applications
Silicone products are mainly divided into three categories based on their use: industrial-grade, food-grade, and medical-grade silicone. Silicone manufacturers select the appropriate raw materials, such as industrial, food, or medical-grade silicone, based on the product’s intended application.
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Industrial-Grade Silicone
Industrial-grade silicone, commonly used in general applications, is widely utilized in industries such as machinery, electronics, automotive, and agriculture. It is designed to meet the demands for high temperature resistance, vibration resistance, chemical stability, aging resistance, flexibility, elasticity, and stretch resistance. Industrial-grade silicone has a stronger odor due to fewer environmental regulations and is not required to meet food safety certifications. Additionally, imperfections such as color irregularities or black spots are not a concern, making it the most affordable option.
Common industrial uses for silicone include aerospace, electronics, oil and gas, chemical processing, machinery, electrical components, precision parts, fuel pipelines, and household appliance seals.
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Food-Grade Silicone
Food-grade silicone is produced using the vapor-phase method, also known as vapor-phase silica, which provides enhanced purity and performance characteristics such as tensile strength, temperature resistance, and aging resistance. Compared to standard silicones, food-grade silicone offers broader and stronger capabilities. It is non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and safe for direct contact with food.
Food-grade silicone is subject to rigorous safety standards and must be certified by agencies like SGS, CTI, and meet FDA, LFGB, ROHS, REACH, and NSF testing standards. This makes it a reliable choice for various food-related applications. Common food-grade silicone products include silicone kitchenware, silicone utensils, food storage bags, food-grade silicone tubes, silicone baking molds (for cakes, chocolates), coffee machine tubing, baby bottle straws, and silicone spoons.
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Medical-Grade Silicone
Medical-grade silicone is designed for high-precision applications where minimal deformation, low extractable compounds, and uniform wall thickness are required. It has stable chemical properties and excellent resistance to weak acids, bases, and chemicals, including alcohol and medical solutions. Medical-grade silicone is non-toxic, non-adhesive to other materials, and capable of withstanding multiple sterilization cycles.
Medical-grade silicone products must meet strict requirements for color consistency and biocompatibility to ensure minimal damage to tissues and the absence of harmful compounds that could affect the efficacy of medications. This type of silicone is frequently used in medical devices that come into contact with human tissues or biological systems, often under conditions of high temperature, pressure, or chemical sterilization.
Medical-grade silicone tubes are commonly used in medical equipment such as catheters, drainage tubes, dialysis tubes, surgical instruments, and respiratory tubes. Some medical-grade silicone products are designed with antimicrobial properties to ensure safety and sterility. These materials often undergo biocompatibility and cytotoxicity tests in compliance with standards such as ISO 10993 and USP Class VI.
Medical-grade silicone is the most expensive of the three types due to its high performance and specialized applications. It is used in medical devices such as surgical drains, dialysis systems, prosthetics, and medical seals to ensure safe, long-term use in healthcare environments.
Difference Between Food-Grade Silicone and Regular Silicone
Silicone products can be categorized into food-grade and regular silicone based on their manufacturing processes, applications, and performance characteristics. Here’s a detailed comparison:
1. Differences in Manufacturing Process
- Regular Silicone: Regular silicone is typically processed using traditional vulcanizing agents. While it is non-toxic and odorless, it has a significant drawback. Over time, if not properly maintained, regular silicone products may undergo yellowing or develop dark spots.
- Food-Grade Silicone: Food-grade silicone, on the other hand, is made from imported raw materials and processed using a two-component addition curing method. This results in significantly better overall performance compared to regular silicone. For example, food-grade silicone maintains its color and does not yellow or darken, even with long-term use.
2. Differences in Application
- Regular Silicone: Regular silicone is most commonly used in industrial products, automotive parts, electrical components, and other environmentally friendly applications. It is suitable for general-purpose items that don’t require stringent safety or environmental standards.
- Food-Grade Silicone: Food-grade silicone, however, is widely used in areas that demand higher safety and environmental standards, such as medical supplies, daily household items (like silicone kitchenware and gifts), and baby products. It is designed for applications where direct contact with food or sensitive materials is involved.
3. Differences in Surface and Performance Characteristics
- Regular Silicone: Regular silicone may not perform as well in certain conditions. For instance, it cannot handle a temperature range of -40°C to 230°C without yellowing or degrading over time. The vulcanization process used for regular silicone is often less thorough, resulting in stronger odors. The surface tends to be opaque and prone to dust adhesion, which can affect its appearance and cleanliness.
- Food-Grade Silicone: Food-grade silicone, on the other hand, excels in maintaining its performance under various conditions. It is odorless, more heat-resistant, and more resistant to aging. It also has superior texture and longevity, making it ideal for high-quality kitchen tools, medical products, and other sensitive applications.
Regular silicone is not inherently bad; it meets the standards required for many daily-use items. For example, it works well for silicone seals, electronic components, automotive parts, and some industrial accessories. It offers decent rebound and stretch resistance, making it suitable for mechanical, electronic, automotive, and agricultural industries. Its lifespan is also relatively good in these applications.
Food-grade silicone is widely used in premium products like silicone kitchen tools, silicone gifts, and baby products. Its primary advantages include:
- Higher purity and environmental benefits
- Odorless, heat-resistant, and aging-resistant
- Longer lifespan and superior product quality
- Better texture and visual appeal compared to regular silicone
Many people mistakenly think that silicone is just another form of plastic or rubber, but it is distinct from both. Silicone products began to become popular over a decade ago, primarily as a safer alternative to plastic and rubber, which can release toxic substances when exposed to heat. Unlike plastic and rubber, silicone is fully free of harmful chemicals during manufacturing, and it can withstand temperatures of up to 230°C without degrading.
While plastic and rubber have a limited lifespan and tend to become hard and brittle over time, silicone is durable, safe, and can significantly reduce resource consumption. It is an environmentally friendly alternative that provides both safety and longevity.
