SILICONE – A SPECIAL ELASTOMER

The special thing about silicone is that it is a high-temperature vulcanising synthetic rubber (HTV) based on the element silicon (Si), which is the basic component in silicone chemistry. Silicon, the second most frequent element on earth, occurs only in the form of compounds such as silicon dioxide and as silicates. Synthesis then produces polysiloxane which can be put to commercial use. The silicon-oxygen chains are supplemented by organic groups containing carbon to produce silicone polymers.

This unique structure is extremely stable, resulting in the excellent physical and chemical properties of silicone elastomers. It is above all the outstanding temperature properties giving silicone an application range from –80°C to +300°C which distinguishes it clearly from other rubbers.

The basic materials or "bases" used at BIW are specially selected to guarantee the product properties. When part of the methyl groups are replaced deliberately by vinyl groups, the fundamental properties of these different bases (MVQ) are already pre-defined. The technical designation MVQ is frequently used on the market, with silicon itself being abbreviated as Q because this is a quaternary group with linkage partners at four points.

"In-house" compounding on the basis of BIW's specialist know-how makes it possible to fulfil special customised requirements by using specific additives, fillers and stabilisers. In addition,  ractically all colours of the RAL colour chart can be matched from colourless transparent (natural) via translucent through to opaque.

The outstanding rubber elastic properties in terms of both expansion and compression behaviour make silicone the ideal sealing material for BIW's customers.

Two alternative vulcanisation methods are used for further processing of the compounds produced at BIW, depending on the final use: peroxide vulcanisation for technical applications, and addition curing based on platinum catalysts for the strictest requirements in food production and medical technology. Silicone does not need any other vulcanisation chemicals or organic plasticisers such as those used in other rubbers.