Silicone: Plastic Alternative

In recent years, consumers have become aware of the harmful effects of plastics. This is why silica gel attracts our attention: it has the convenient properties of plastic without any toxic side effects. But what is silicone, and how is it different from plastic?

Silicone gel is an artificial polymer synthesized from silicon, oxygen and other elements (usually carbon and hydrogen). This polymer has been found to have various properties. It can be liquid, gel, hard, soft, or even like rubber.

Unlike plastics, silicone resins have high temperature resistance. Its reactivity with chemical substances is low. It does not support microbial growth, repels water, and is resistant to ultraviolet light (ultraviolet light). All of this makes silicone easy to clean and a powerful overall substitute for plastic.

Compared with plastics, silicone products have a much longer service life. Silicone, like plastic, can be recycled multiple times. When silicone is properly recycled, it can be broken down into an oil that can be used as an industrial lubricant, playground covering, or other less important products.

Silicone resin can withstand extreme temperature fluctuations. Under normal cooking conditions, it will not melt. However, once it exceeds 400 ℃, it may start to harden over time. Silicone resin can also be used for refrigerator storage and will prevent cracking or other deterioration that may be caused by the use of plastic containers.

Like any product, there are low-quality and high-quality silicone products on the market. The higher the quality of silicone, the less likely it is that the chemicals or toxins it contains will be filtered out of the silicone. Low-quality silicones may contain chemical fillers, which can destroy the uniform heat resistance of the silicones and even give a synthetic odor to the normally odorless silicones. You can test whether your silicone products have chemical fillers by pinching and/or twisting a part of the silicone. The general rule is that pure silicone does not change the color, so if any white passes through, there may be fillers in your product.