Organosilicon deep processing products, as an emerging high-end product, are playing an increasingly important role in the industrial field. Organosilicon possesses unique characteristics such as high temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, and electrical insulation properties, making it widely used in various industrial applications. Organosilicon deep processing products, as the result of processing organosilicon materials, have multiple uses and broad market prospects. Organosilicon deep processing products mainly include silicone rubber, silicone oil, silicone resin, silane coupling agents, and gas-phase method white carbon black.

Introduction to Silicone Rubber

Silicone rubber is one of the most important organosilicon products. The raw materials for preparing silicone rubber usually consist of linear polysiloxane (siliconegum), reinforcing fillers, crosslinking agents, catalysts, and modifying additives. By blending all the raw materials, a mix rubber can be processed. The mix rubber undergoes crosslinking and vulcanization under certain conditions, transforming from a viscous liquid to a high elastic vulcanizate.

Classification of Silicone Rubber Products

Depending on the organic groups connected to the silicon atoms, silicone rubber can be divided into dimethyl silicone rubber, methyl vinyl silicone rubber, methyl phenyl silicone rubber, fluorosilicone rubber, cyano silicone rubber, ethyl silicone rubber, phenyl silicone rubber, and many other varieties.

According to the sulfurization method and conditions, silicone rubber is generally divided into high-temperature vulcanization (HTV) silicone rubber and room temperature vulcanization (RTV) silicone rubber.

Raw rubber, also known as high-temperature vulcanization (HTV) silicone rubber, can be further classified into high consistency rubber (HCR) and liquid silicone rubber (LR) based on product form and mixing method. The high-temperature vulcanization silicone raw rubber is a high molecular weight polyorganosiloxane (with a molecular weight generally from 400,000 to 800,000).

High consistency high-temperature vulcanization silicone rubber accounts for about 80% of the global silicone rubber market share, while liquid silicone rubber and room temperature vulcanization silicone rubber each account for about 10%. Silicone rubber cured through photopolymerization is a relatively new silicone rubber product, with a relatively small market share at present.

Room temperature vulcanization silicone rubber, also known as room temperature rubber, is an organic silicon elastomer developed in the 1960s. Its most significant feature is the ability to cure at room temperature without the need for heating or pressure, making it extremely convenient to use. Similar to high-temperature rubber, room temperature vulcanization silicone rubber is composed of base rubber, reinforcing fillers, crosslinking agents, catalysts, and other additives. The polymer used as the base rubber has a significantly lower molecular weight compared to the polymer used to manufacture high-temperature rubber. Depending on the formulation, the vulcanization of room temperature rubber can be accomplished through condensation/decomposition or addition reactions of active groups.

Room temperature rubber can be further classified into condensation type and addition type based on the vulcanization reaction mechanism, and single-component and two-component based on the packaging form. Single-component room temperature vulcanization silicone rubber is condensation type, while two-component room temperature rubber can be condensation type or addition type.

Single component room temperature adhesive can be divided into decarboxylic acid type, deoxime , dealcohol type, deamide type, deamine type, deacetone type and dehydroxylamine 2 type.

Condensation type two-component room temperature vulcanization silicone rubber does not rely on moisture in the air for curing, but is initiated by catalysts. The catalyst and crosslinking agent are packaged separately, and curing begins when mixed.

Addition type room temperature vulcanization silicone rubber is typically packaged in two components, with a mixing ratio of A component to B component of 1:1, 1:9, or 100:1.

Addition type room temperature vulcanization silicone rubber can be in the form of elastic silicone hydrogel or silicone rubber. The former has lower mechanical strength, while the latter has higher strength. Organic silicon hydrogel generally contains little or no fillers, resulting in high transparency. This hydrogel can maintain elasticity over a temperature range of 65 to 200°C, exhibiting excellent electrical and chemical stability, as well as resistance to water, ozone, weathering, moisture, shock, corrosion, physiological inertness, non-toxicity, odorlessness, easy impregnation, deep vulcanization, low linear shrinkage, and simple operation. Thus, silicone hydrogel finds wide applications in areas such as medical care, electronics industry, and automotive industry.

Organic silicone hydrogels are widely used in the electronics industry as coatings and encapsulating materials for electronic components, providing dustproof, moisture-proof, shockproof, and insulating properties. Due to their high transparency, they can easily detect component faults with probes for replacement, with damaged silicone hydrogels being resealed and repaired. Organic silicone hydrogels, with their high purity, convenient use, and certain elasticity, are ideal internal coating materials for transistors and integrated circuits, contributing to higher pass rates and reliability of semiconductor devices. Organic silicone hydrogels can also be used as flexible adhesives in optical instruments, and as damping materials in sports products.

Market Trends and Future Development of Silicone Rubber Products

The market size of silicone rubber products is continuously expanding, with good growth forecasts. With technological innovation and ongoing research and development, the performance and quality of silicone rubber products are expected to be further enhanced. Additionally, the impacts of environmental protection and sustainable development on silicone rubber products are increasing, likely driving their wider application and development in various fields.

Overall, silicone rubber is a multifunctional, high-performance organosilicon product that plays a significant role in various sectors.