In daily life, we often come into contact with various items made of silica gel, from baby pacifiers, kitchen baking molds, to mobile phone cases, medical equipment accessories, etc. With its unique properties and wide range of uses, silica gel has gradually penetrated into all aspects of our lives. So, what kind of material is silica gel?
Chemical nature and structure
Silica gel is a highly active adsorption material, whose main component is silicon dioxide (SiO₂) and has stable chemical properties. From the microscopic structure, silica gel has a porous mesh structure, which gives it a huge specific surface area. The larger the specific surface area, the larger the surface area of silica gel in contact with the outside world per unit mass, so that it can adsorb more substances. For example, in the application of desiccant, the porous structure of silica gel is like countless tiny "pockets" that can quickly absorb moisture in the air to achieve the purpose of drying. Moreover, this structure of silica gel is relatively stable and will not change easily under normal use conditions, ensuring the durability of its performance.
Physical properties
Soft and elastic
Silica gel has excellent flexibility and elasticity, which enables it to withstand a certain degree of stretching, compression and bending without damage. Take the silicone phone case as an example. It can fit the phone tightly and provide good protection for the phone. At the same time, when the phone accidentally falls, it can buffer the impact force through its own elasticity and reduce the damage to the phone. Moreover, the soft texture of silicone also prevents it from scratching the surface of objects in contact with it during use, such as baby pacifiers. It is soft and fits the baby's mouth well, and will not cause damage to the baby's delicate oral mucosa.
High temperature and low temperature resistance
Silicone has a wide temperature adaptation range, and it can maintain stable performance in high and low temperature environments. Generally speaking, ordinary silicone can be used normally in the temperature range of -40℃ to 230℃, and some specially formulated silicone can even withstand higher temperatures. In the kitchen, silicone baking molds can withstand high temperature baking in the oven without deformation or release of harmful substances; in cold environments, such as refrigerator freezers, silicone products will not become brittle or crack, and can still be used normally. This temperature resistance makes silicone widely used in various extreme temperature conditions.
Good insulation performance
Silicone is an excellent insulating material with good electrical insulation properties. It has high resistivity and can effectively prevent the passage of current, so it has been widely used in the field of electronics and electrical appliances. For example, the insulation layer of silicone wires and cables uses silicone material, which can ensure that the wires and cables will not leak electricity during the transmission of electric energy, thereby improving the safety of electricity use. At the same time, the insulation performance of silicone is not affected by environmental factors such as humidity and temperature, and can maintain a stable insulation effect under different environmental conditions.
Environmental protection and safety
Non-toxic and odorless
Silicone is a non-toxic and odorless material that does not release harmful substances during production and use, and is harmless to human health. This makes it widely used in food contact and medical fields. In the food industry, silicone tableware, sealing rings, etc. can directly contact food without contaminating food, ensuring food safety; in the medical field, silicone is used to make various medical device accessories, such as catheters, prostheses, etc. Its good biocompatibility will not cause human rejection reactions, providing safety guarantees for the treatment and rehabilitation of patients.
Recyclable
With the continuous improvement of environmental awareness, the recyclability of materials has become a focus of attention. Silicone has good recyclability. Recycled silicone can be processed into new silicone products, reducing resource waste and environmental pollution. Compared with some disposable plastic products, the use and recycling of silicone products are more in line with the concept of sustainable development and help promote the development of green environmental protection industries.
Application areas
Daily life areas
In daily life, silicone products are everywhere. In addition to the baby pacifiers, mobile phone cases, and baking molds mentioned above, there are also silicone kitchen utensils, silicone sealing mats, silicone ice trays, etc. Silicone kitchen utensils such as shovels and spoons are non-stick and easy to clean, and will not scratch the surface of pots like metal kitchen utensils; silicone sealing mats can effectively prevent liquid leakage and ensure the sealing of containers; silicone ice trays can make ice cubes of various shapes, adding fun to our lives.
Industrial fields
In industrial production, silicone also plays an important role. It can be used as a sealing material in the automotive, machinery and other industries to prevent liquid and gas leakage; as a shock-absorbing material for electronic equipment, instruments and meters, etc., to reduce the impact of vibration on equipment; it can also be used as a catalyst carrier to improve the efficiency and selectivity of chemical reactions.
Medical field
Silicone is widely used in the medical field, such as making artificial organs, medical device accessories, and drug sustained-release carriers. Due to its good biocompatibility and stability, artificial organs made of silicone can be used in the human body for a long time to help patients recover their health; silicone medical device accessories such as infusion tubes and syringe seals ensure the safety and hygiene of the medical process.
As a material with a unique chemical structure, excellent physical properties, and good environmental safety performance, silicone has shown great application value in daily life, industrial production, and the medical field. With the continuous advancement and innovation of science and technology, the performance of silicone will continue to be optimized, and the application field will be further expanded, bringing more convenience and surprises to our lives.