Silicone in Our Daily Lives

Author: johnjamescan1 | Posted: 21.05.2012

Silicones are inorganic as well as organic polymers made of silicon along with carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and other chemical elements. There are different types of silicone products that you can use in your daily life, in the medical field, and in the industrial field. Due to its non toxic properties, silicone can be used safely in the home or in areas where any contact with food is required. It is highly popular as molds in chocolate making. Silicone products not only include kitchenware but also dry cleaning solvents which are made when silicone is in its liquid state. Many toys such as juggling balls are also made out of silicone. Its ease of use makes it popular in the manufacture of automotive goods, sportswear, electronic goods as well as medical devices.

Benefits Of Using Silicone Products

Silicones are available in the form of oil, grease, rubber, or resin. Medical silicone tubing is used in the field of medicine because of its biocompatibility. It is easily sterilized and extremely flexible. It is nonwettable also. Medical silicone tubing is available with radiopaque options. Its properties including that of low thermal conductivity, low toxicity as well as low chemical reactivity makes it safe to be used in the form of seals and shrouds. It is extremely popular as a sealant as it protects again penetration by air or water. In its gel form, silicone can be used to make contact lenses, bandages, and energy bracelets. Silicone can also be used as a lubricant in the form of silicone grease. Silicone lubricants are also used in the medical arena. Many shampoos, hair conditioners, gel products etc. include silicone in their ingredients. Silicone is also found in shaving products. Due to its hygienic properties and durability, silicone is used to make baby bottle nipples too.

Uses Of Medical Silicone Tubing

Medical silicone tubing is used in suctioning, aspirating, and infusing. It is used in food production, processing, and manufacturing and also used as scientific and laboratory equipments. The silicone used in tubes is flexible, it is odorless, tasteless, pliable, as well as highly resistant to cold, heat, and organic fluids. Medical silicone tubing is used for catheters, drains, feeding tubes, and for long and short term implants. Its ability to resist high temperature variations along with its non-toxicity makes it ideal for surgeries where they need flexible tubes. Medical silicone tubing can be customized to meet specific requirements. They are easy to sterilize by autoclaving. It also lends itself to sterilization by gamma radiation if required.

Rigid Tubing Products

Rigid tubing products, as the name suggests, are hard and strong tubes and fittings, unlike the flexible silicone tubes. Rigid tubes are resistant to extreme temperatures, high pressure, chemicals, and biological reactions. They are ideal for both lab as well as industrial use due to its versatility, durability, rigidity as well as its longevity. The smooth interior walls of rigid tubing products allow liquids to flow through easily without allowing excessive sediment buildup. In situations where purity has to be maintained like in laboratories, its noncontaminating properties is very important. They are also usually corrosion resistant.

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