Fundamental Properties and Classification of Silicone Materials-Iota

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News > Dynamic industry > Fundamental Properties and Classification of Silicone Materials

Fundamental Properties and Classification of Silicone Materials

Silicone materials are polymers with a silicon–oxygen (Si–O) backbone and organic side groups such as methyl or phenyl. Owing to their unique “inorganic–organic” hybrid structure, they combine the heat and weather resistance of inorganic materials with the flexibility and processability of organic polymers. This makes them indispensable in modern industry. With the rapid development of AI-enabled devices, the performance advantages of silicones are becoming even more prominent.

I. Fundamental Properties

The core advantages of silicone materials can be summarized as follows:

Thermal resistance
The bond energy of the Si–O bond (~460 kJ/mol) is much higher than that of a C–C bond (~345 kJ/mol). As a result, silicones can be used continuously in the range of –60 °C to 250 °C and withstand short-term exposure to over 300 °C. This property is crucial for AI devices operating under extreme temperature variations, such as outdoor sensors or aerospace components.

Weatherability and stability
Silicones are highly resistant to UV radiation, ozone, moisture, and chemical attack (acids, bases, solvents). Even when exposed for long periods to harsh environments such as high heat, humidity, or radiation, they retain stable performance. This makes them an ideal choice for outdoor electronics and industrial applications.

Electrical insulation
With a high volume resistivity (10¹⁴–10¹⁶ Ω·cm) and low dielectric loss, silicones are excellent insulating materials. They effectively prevent current leakage and are widely used in chip encapsulation, circuit board protection, and other electronic applications.

Biocompatibility
Certain silicone materials, such as medical-grade silicone rubber, are non-toxic, odorless, and biocompatible with human tissue. They can be safely used in medical implants or wearable health-monitoring devices.

Low surface tension
With a low surface energy (~21–22 mN/m), silicones exhibit hydrophobicity, self-cleaning, and anti-adhesion properties. They are suitable for coatings and sealants, such as waterproof smartphone films or robotic joint seals.

Flexibility and elasticity
Silicone rubbers possess excellent flexibility and resilience, enabling them to accommodate complex geometries and dynamic deformations. Applications include flexible electronic substrates and stretchable circuits.

II. Classification

Silicone rubber
The most common form of silicone, categorized into high-temperature vulcanized (HTV) and room-temperature vulcanized (RTV) types. HTV requires curing at elevated temperatures, provides excellent elasticity and aging resistance, and is used in sealing and vibration damping. RTV cures at room temperature, is easy to apply, and is suitable for small-scale production or on-site applications.

Silicone resins
Characterized by high hardness, heat resistance, and radiation resistance. They are typically used in coatings (e.g., LED encapsulation, electronic component protection) and as structural materials in high-temperature environments.

Silicone oils
Liquid silicones with a low viscosity–temperature coefficient and excellent lubricity. They are used as heat transfer media (e.g., for AI chip cooling) or lubricants (e.g., in robotic joints).

Silane coupling agents
Functional materials that improve adhesion between inorganic and organic phases, thereby enhancing composite performance. They play a key role in thermally conductive composites used in AI devices.

Silicone greases
Formulated from silicone oil and fillers (such as aluminum oxide or boron nitride), combining low surface tension with thermal and/or electrical conductivity. They are mainly used for electronic component cooling and electromagnetic shielding.

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