Is there a difference between silicone and silicone rubber?

According to some chemical books, "silica gel" is a condensate of silica, and its molecular formula is mSiO2 · H2O. The "silica gel" is a highly active adsorption material, which is an amorphous substance, insoluble in water and any solvents, non-toxic and odorless, stable in chemical properties, and does not react with any substances except strong alkali and hydrofluoric acid. And we often say rhinoplasty, the silicone filled in breast enhancement is the kind of silicone. However, in the mold industry, the silica gel that we mentioned is usually not the silica gel of the hydrate of silica mentioned above, but a kind of synthetic rubber. Because it contains silicon atomic components, it is called silicone rubber, which is referred to as silica gel for short.
Classification of silicone

Generally speaking, silica gel can be divided into two categories: organic silica gel and inorganic silica gel according to its properties and components.

Inorganic silica gel is a highly active adsorption material, usually made by reacting sodium silicate with sulfuric acid and undergoing a series of post-treatment processes such as aging and acid foaming. Silica gel is an amorphous substance, and its chemical molecular formula is mSiO2. nH2O. Insoluble in water and any solvents, non-toxic and odorless, chemically stable, and does not react with any substances except strong bases and hydrofluoric acid. Various types of silica gel have different microporous structures due to their different manufacturing methods. The chemical composition and physical structure of silica gel determine that it has many other similar materials that are difficult to replace: high adsorption performance, good thermal stability, stable chemical properties, high mechanical strength, etc., used as a desiccant in households, humidity Regulators, deodorants, etc .; industrial use as decolorants, catalyst carriers, pressure swing adsorbents, etc .; separation and purification agents for fine chemicals, beer stabilizers, coating thickeners, toothpaste friction agents, matting agents, etc.

According to the size of its pore size, silica gel is divided into: large-pore silica gel, coarse-pore silica gel, B-type silica gel, and fine-pore silica gel. Due to the different pore structures, their adsorption properties are different. Coarse-pored silica gels have a higher adsorption capacity under high relative humidity conditions, while fine-pored silica gels have a higher adsorption capacity than coarse-pored silica gels with lower relative humidity, while type B silica gels have a coarser and finer pore structure Between pores, its adsorption capacity is also between coarse and fine pores.

Inorganic silica gel can be further divided into beer silica gel, PSA silica gel, medical silica gel, color-changing silica gel, silica gel desiccant, silica gel opening agent, silica gel for toothpaste and so on.

Is there any difference between the silicone and silicone rubber introduced above, and all the knowledge about the classification of silicone, I hope to help everyone. After you read this article, you know something about silicone and silicone rubber, because you can choose the right product because of the difference. If you do n’t understand it and choose it blindly, you will cause yourself a lot of trouble.