In the ever-changing industrial arena, there is a material known as the "industrial MSG" - silicone. In its four major forms, silicone rubber, silicone oil, silicone resin and silane coupling agent, it has quietly penetrated into various industries such as electronics and electrical, construction, textiles, medical care, and transportation, leading the trend of new chemical materials.
Silicone, with its exceptional properties of electrical insulation, radiation resistance, flame retardancy, corrosion resistance, and extreme temperature tolerance, has become a secret weapon for enhancing product performance. It has not only broadened the boundaries of material applications but also shined in surface modification technology. Through physical and chemical means, it has given inorganic powders a "new coat," revitalizing polymer materials like plastics, rubber, and adhesives.
In the electrical and electronics sector, silicone sealants, adhesives, and conformal coatings are widely used in components such as LEDs, semiconductors, circuits, connectors, capacitors, and coils, ensuring a continuous power supply and protecting sensitive circuits from heat, contamination, and accidental damage. Silicones are also used as conductive adhesives and encapsulants in solar panels, improving their efficiency and extending their lifespan.
In the construction industry, silicone sealants, due to their excellent weathering, aging, and temperature resistance, are ideal for treating joints in glass curtain walls, door and window frames, and roofs and walls. Silicone waterproof coatings and membranes, with their breathable and waterproof properties, provide reliable waterproofing for roofs, basements, and walls. Furthermore, silicone insulation plays a vital role in insulating cables and electrical equipment, improving energy efficiency.
Silicones also play a vital role in the transportation sector. They are used in tires, seals, lubricant additives, and other applications to enhance wear resistance, tear resistance, and durability. In plastics processing, silicone tackifiers significantly improve the adhesion of plastic products to various substrates and enhance the adhesion and sealing strength of films.
Furthermore, silicones have become one of the preferred surface modification technologies. Physical and chemical methods are used to modify the surface of inorganic powders, improving their physical and chemical properties and enhancing their compatibility and dispersibility with organic matrices, thereby increasing the mechanical strength and overall performance of the material. This technology has wide applications in improving the dispersion of pigments in coatings and paints, enhancing coating gloss, increasing tinting power, enhancing hiding power, and improving weather resistance, heat resistance, antibacterial and mildew resistance, and color retention.
