Silicones
Silicones are synthetic polymers made from the products of nature. Main raw material is quartz or Silicon metal. Although “silicone” is often used as a generic term for nearly all substances that contain a silicon atom, it is more properly described as an entirely synthetic polymer containing a Si-O backbone. To this backbone, organic groups are frequently attached to the silicon atoms via a Si-C bond.
This general description defines the broad class of polymers known as silicones. The most common example is poly(dimethylsiloxane) or PDMS. This polymer has a repeating (CH3)2SiO unit. These materials are the basic building blocks of the silicone industry. Depending upon the number of repeat units in the polymer chain and the degree of cross-linking ("tying" the polymer chains together), at least seven classes of commercially important products can be produced:
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Silicone Fluids
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Silicone Emulsions
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Silicone Antifoams
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Silicone Elastomers
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Silicone Greases and pastes
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Silicone Resins
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Silanes, Specialty Intermediates
BRB International b.v. has a wide range of silicone products, some of them may not be mentioned on this website. Please contact us if you can’t find your product.