SwRI Materials Development Section - Silicones Silicones Silicones are consumed in thousands of ways in many different industries, primarily electrical, textile, plastics, rubber, paper, paint, automobile and construction. World production exceeds 475,000 metric tons per year and is almost entirely methyl silicone rubber, fluid and resin. The properties of silicones are unique and numerous.
Silicones can exist in physical forms ranging from low viscosity liquids to solid elastomers.
The nature of the silicon atom and the molecular structure of methyl silicone result in low surface energy, high gas permeability, low temperature flexibility and high temperature stability properties to name a few. The technology of silicones does not limit itself to methyl silicone however. The diverse nature of organosilicon chemistry lends itself to the synthesis of many unique materials. Staff members use their expertise to develop novel silicones and silicon-containing materials for many specialty applications. The technical staff develops synthesis techniques for the preparation of specialty organofunctional silicones.