The silicone spatula in the kitchen gently flips the fried eggs, the silicone pacifier in the baby's room is grasped by little hands, and the transparent silicone catheter in the hospital delivers the source of life... These soft and durable items have a common name - silicone. But when people pick them up, they always have questions: Is silicone rubber or plastic? This seemingly simple question actually hides an interesting "cross-border story" in materials science.
It feels like rubber, but it doesn't burn like plastic
It's as soft and elastic as rubber
The most intuitive feeling of silicone is "soft but not collapsed". Pinch the silicone pacifier, it can quickly return to its original shape; pull the handle of the silicone kitchenware, it can stretch to several times its own length. This elasticity is very similar to natural rubber - such as the touch of car tires and rubber bands. But silicone is "tougher" than ordinary rubber: it will not crack due to repeated bending, nor will it turn yellow and become brittle as easily as latex products.
Unlike plastic's "heat-averse" property
If you put a plastic spoon and a silicone spatula into boiling water at the same time, the plastic spoon may quickly become soft and bend, and even release a pungent smell; while the silicone spatula will not melt when frying food in a 200℃ oil pan, and it will remain intact after boiling in boiling water for half an hour. This high-temperature resistance makes silicone a new favorite in the kitchen, while most plastic products (such as disposable lunch boxes and plastic bags) will be "revealed" under high temperatures.
A small life experiment:
Burning the edges of silicone and plastic with a lighter briefly: plastic will melt and drip, while silicone will only turn white and harden but will not burn
Fold and squeeze the two: plastic is prone to leaving white creases, while silicone leaves almost no traces after unfolding
"Cross-border players" in kitchens, hospitals, and baby rooms
"All-round players" in the kitchen
Silicone spatulas can easily flip fragile fish fillets without scratching non-stick pans, silicone molds can make perfectly shaped cakes and ice cubes, and there are even silicone fresh-keeping lids that can fit tightly into various containers. These scenarios require materials that are:
Soft and will not damage utensils (rubber characteristics)
High temperature resistance and no deformation (surpassing most plastics)
Waterproof, mildew-proof and easy to clean (plastic convenience)
"Safety guard" in the medical field
From infusion tubes to artificial joints, from scar stickers to catheters, silicone is everywhere in medical scenarios. Doctors choose it because:
It does not release harmful substances (such as bisphenol A) like some plastics
It causes fewer allergic reactions than rubber
It can be made into a transparent material to facilitate observation of liquid flow
"Safe choice" for baby products
Silicone bottles, teethers, and bibs have almost become standard for newborn families. Compared with the plasticizers that may be contained in plastics, the chemical stability of silicone makes parents more at ease; compared with the protein allergy risk that may exist in natural rubber, silicone is more gentle. This "best of both worlds" feature is why it is popular in the maternal and infant market.
Environmental protection competition: different endings buried in the soil
The "hundred-year regret" of plastic
It takes 20-1000 years for a plastic bag to decompose in the natural environment, and microplastic particles have appeared in the deepest part of the ocean and in human blood. Even plastic bags that are advertised as "degradable" require specific industrial conditions to decompose, and will still cause pollution if discarded at will.
Silicone is "relatively friendly"
Although the degradation rate of silica gel in the soil is faster than that of plastic (about 50-100 years), the more important thing is:
The degradation products are mainly silicon dioxide (the main component of sand) and water, and no toxic substances are produced
Can be recycled repeatedly to make new silicone products
No highly toxic gases such as dioxins are produced when burned
Environmental protection tips:
Choose silicone products with environmental certification (such as FDA food grade, ROHS EU environmental protection standards)
Plastic products should be reused as much as possible to reduce the consumption of disposable products
After the silicone products are scrapped, you can contact professional recycling agencies for processing
Back to the original question: Silicone is neither traditional rubber nor typical plastic. It is more like a "cross-border star" standing between the two. Just like electric cars are not pure fuel cars or battery cars, silicone has opened up a new world of materials with its unique molecular structure. For consumers, instead of worrying about which category it belongs to, it is better to pay attention to the quality certification and usage scenarios of specific products - pacifiers that can safely accompany children's growth, kitchen utensils that can enhance the cooking experience, and medical equipment that can protect health, these are the real value that silicone brings to life.