Many people may not know the difference between platinum silicone and common silicone. Most people have heard of the word silicone but they may not know the difference between platinum silicone and common silicone. Most people have heard of the word silicone, but they don’t know about platinum silicone. In fact, platinum silicone is a type of silicone. Silicone is divided into single-component and double-component silicone. Component silicone, platinum silicone is a two-component silicone. Two-component silicone is composed of liquid silicone and a catalyst. The catalyst of platinum silicone is platinum, so the name of platinum silicone comes from its catalysis. Therefore, the price of platinum silicone is slightly higher than that of common silicone. So, what is the difference between platinum silicone and common silicone?

What is common silicone?

common silicone is a polymer compound with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as the main component. It uses silane (SiH) and methyl vinyl siloxane (MEVS) as raw materials, and is produced by reaction under high temperature conditions through the action of a catalyst. The molecular structure of common silicone is linear or cross-linked, and has high flexibility and high temperature resistance.

What is platinum silicone?

platinum silicone is a new type of polymer material composed of siloxane (Si-O) chains and organic groups. Platinum is its catalyst, which gives it good thermal stability, oxidation resistance and insulation properties. The main components of platinum silicone are silica (SiO2) and dimethyl silicone (PDMS), with the platinum content usually ranging from 0.01% to 1%.

Characteristics and uses of common silicone

Common silicone is a silicone polymer with many unique properties and a wide range of uses. First of all, it has excellent high temperature resistance and can maintain stability at temperatures up to 200°C, which makes it widely used in high temperature environments, such as automotive engine sealing, electronic and electrical insulation, etc.

Secondly, ordinary silicone has good flexibility, can remain stable in various shapes, and is not easy to break. Therefore, it is widely used in mold making, sealing and caulking and other processes. At the same time, it also has excellent chemical resistance and can resist the erosion of chemicals such as acids, alkalis, and solvents. Therefore, it has important uses in chemical industry, medical equipment and other fields.

In addition, common silicone has good insulation properties and can be used for insulation packaging and protection in the electronic and electrical industry. It can also be used as an insulation layer for high-voltage cables. Its waterproof performance is also very good, and it is often used for sealing, such as waterproofing in humid environments such as bathrooms and kitchens.

common silicone also has the characteristics of aging resistance and is not easy to lose performance over time, so it shows stable and reliable characteristics in long-term use.

In general, the main uses of ordinary silicone include sealing, bonding, insulation, waterproofing, mold making and medical devices. It has important applications in industry, construction, electronics, medical and other industries. It is a silicone material with diverse functions and excellent performance.

Advantages of common silicone

High Temperature Resistance: Ordinary silicone is able to maintain stability in high temperature environments, often withstanding temperatures up to over 200°C, making it very useful in high temperature applications.

Flexibility: Ordinary silicone has good flexibility, can remain stable in various shapes, and is not easy to break, which makes it suitable for occasions that require deformation or twisting.

Chemical corrosion resistance: common silicone has good chemical corrosion resistance and can resist the erosion of acids, alkalis, solvents and other chemical substances, making it important in the chemical industry.

Good insulation performance: common silicone is an excellent insulating material and can be used for insulation packaging and protection in the electronic and electrical industry, as well as high-voltage cable insulation layers.

Excellent waterproof performance: Ordinary silicone has excellent waterproof performance and is often used for sealing, such as waterproofing in humid environments such as bathrooms and kitchens.

Aging resistance: common silicone has good aging resistance and is not easy to lose performance over time, making it stable and reliable in long-term use.

Ease of processing: Ordinary silicone is easy to process into various shapes and sizes, which can meet the needs of different applications and is also easy to construct and use.

Disadvantages of common silicone

Not resistant to mechanical impact: Compared with metals and other engineering plastics, ordinary silicone has lower mechanical strength and is susceptible to mechanical impact and scratches, reducing its reliability in some applications that need to withstand mechanical stress.

Adhesion: Silicone may exhibit strong adhesion in some cases, which may be a disadvantage when used in situations that require reprocessing or repair.

Relatively high price: Compared with other common sealing materials, the price of ordinary silicone is relatively high, which may limit its use in some cost-sensitive applications.

Oxidation problem: Although silicone itself has good chemical resistance, long-term exposure to air may cause oxidation, causing yellowing or aging of the surface, affecting appearance and performance.

Release of volatile compounds: During the preparation process of silicone, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may be released. These substances may have certain effects on human health and need to be paid attention to when using them.

Special cleaning requirements: silicone easily absorbs dust and dirt during application, making it relatively difficult to clean. Special cleaning agents or methods need to be used for cleaning.

Characteristics and uses of platinum silicone

Platinum silicone has many features that traditional silicone does not have. First, it has higher thermal stability and oxidation resistance and can withstand higher temperatures and extreme environments. Secondly, platinum silicone has better toughness, can be processed in different shapes and structures, and can be made into various complex molds and seals. In addition, platinum silicone is very transparent and is a very good electrical insulating material and is widely used in electronics and electrical fields.

Platinum silicone has a wide range of applications. It can be used in medical equipment, hydraulic seals, electronic equipment, automotive parts, food packaging, optical devices and other fields. Platinum silicone is also widely used in the fields of cosmetics, cosmetic plastic surgery and medical beauty, such as the production of orthotics, surgical instruments and prostheses.

Advantages of platinum silicone:

1. High temperature resistance: Platinum silicone has high thermal stability and can be used at high temperatures while maintaining stable physical properties.

2. Highly transparent: Platinum silicone has very high transparency and can be used as optical components, such as 2K displays and laser heads.

3. Good electrical insulation: platinum siliconecan be used as a coating for high-voltage cables and transmission lines, as well as an insulating material for motors and transformers.

4. Non-sticky: Platinum silicone has very good anti-stick properties and can prevent different surfaces from sticking.

5. Non-toxic and environmentally friendly: platinum siliconedoes not contain heavy metals and other harmful substances and is harmless to the human body.

Disadvantages of platinum silicone

High cost: The production cost of platinum silicone is high, and the platinum catalyst is an expensive material, resulting in a relatively high price, which may be cost-limited in some applications.

Longer curing time: The curing time of platinum silicone is usually longer, especially when cured at low temperatures, it may take a longer time to achieve complete curing, which may affect production efficiency.

Lower mechanical strength: Compared with other engineering plastics, platinum silicone has lower mechanical strength and is susceptible to mechanical shock and scratches, reducing its reliability in some applications that need to withstand mechanical stress.

Adhesion: Platinum silicone may exhibit strong adhesion in some cases, which may be a disadvantage in situations where reprocessing or repair is required.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs): During the production process of platinum silicone, some volatile organic compounds may be released, which may have a certain impact on the environment and human health. You need to pay attention when using it.

Application limitations: Since the curing process of platinum silicone requires the participation of a platinum catalyst, its curing effect and performance may be affected under some special environmental conditions, such as extreme acid and alkali conditions or when the platinum catalyst is contaminated.

The difference between common silicone and platinum silicone

Platinum silicone is more expensive than traditional silicone, costing approximately twice as much. However, platinum silicone has higher stability and less toxicity, and is also more green and environmentally friendly. In some application scenarios, platinum silicone is regarded as a substitute for traditional silicone.

Element:

Common silicone usually uses peroxide as a catalyst and is cured by heating or ultraviolet light.

Platinum silicone contains a platinum catalyst that cures at lower temperatures (usually at room temperature) through the catalytic action of platinum.

Curing method:

Common silicone usually needs to be cured at high temperatures or through ultraviolet irradiation, and the curing time is long.

Platinum silicone can be cured by the action of platinum catalyst at room temperature, and the curing time is relatively short.

Temperature resistance:

The temperature resistance of common silicone is usually around 150°C, while some special models can reach over 200°C.

Platinum silicone has higher temperature resistance and can usually withstand temperatures above 300°C, even up to 500°C.

Mechanical behavior:

The mechanical properties of ordinary silicone are relatively low, and the elasticity and tensile strength may not be as good as platinum silicone.

Platinum silicone has better mechanical properties, higher elasticity and tensile strength, and is more suitable for situations where it can withstand mechanical stress.

Cost:

The preparation cost of common silicone is relatively low, and the price is also relatively low.

The preparation cost of platinum silicone is higher, and the price is also more expensive than common silicone.

Application areas:

Common silicone is commonly used in general sealing, bonding, insulation and other general applications.

Platinum silicone is often used in high-demand medical devices, electronic components, automotive parts and other fields due to its high temperature resistance, excellent mechanical properties and chemical stability.

For Making Reborn Dolls:

Both silicone reborn dolls and platinum silicone dolls can achieve a high level of realism, but platinum silicone dolls often excel in capturing finer details such as wrinkles, pores, and subtle facial expressions due to the material's superior quality.

With their ability to capture fine details and realistic skin textures, platinum silicone dolls are often considered the pinnacle of realism in the reborn doll community. The craftsmanship and detailing of these dolls can closely resemble that of a real infant.

The production process of common silicone and platinum silicone

The production process of platinum silicone usually uses heating and stirring, which makes it a very fluid mixture. First prepare the siloxane and organosiloxane, then add the platinum catalyst and harden it into a solid by heating and stirring.

How to distinguish platinum silicone from common silicone?

Platinum silicone is a two-component silicone, divided into two components AB. Usually component A is liquid silicone, and component B is a catalyst containing platinum components. Its operating ratio is mostly 1:1, so it is also called ab silicone. . Some high-quality platinum silicone also has food contact certification, which is FDA food grade certification. Platinum silicone products are very good, so how do we distinguish platinum products from ordinary silicone products?

Distinguish from the molding process

common silicone and platinum silicone are prepared using different catalysts. In fact, in addition to common silicone and platinum silicone, there are also medical grade and food grade silicone. These are also divided into levels, of course they are medical grade silicone and food grade silicone. Ordinary silicone products are made of ordinary silicone raw materials and processed with the most traditional vulcanizing agents. Although the products are non-toxic and odorless, they have various properties. However, a fatal flaw of ordinary silicone products is that over time, if the product is not maintained, ordinary silicone will turn yellow and have dark lines.

Platinum and food-grade silicone products will not have such problems: they are made from imported silicone raw materials and processed by a two-component addition type vulcanizing machine. Their performance is much better than ordinary silicone in all aspects, such as long-term use. There are phenomena such as yellowing and dark lines.

Distinguish from appearance and performance

Common silicone cannot achieve the performance effects mentioned in the market. For example, it will not yellow or degrade after long-term use in the temperature range of -40~240°. Generally speaking, the vulcanization process of ordinary silicone in silicone product manufacturers will not be very good considering the time and processing cost, so ordinary silicone has a lot of smell. The surface is opaque and may also attract dust. All in all, common silicone is far from achieving the product performance of platinum and food-grade silicone.

Distinguish from the scope of application

Common silicone is most commonly used in environmentally friendly industrial supplies, accessories, auto parts, and electrical accessories. platinum silicone, medical grade and food grade silicone are widely used in industries with higher safety and environmental protection requirements such as medical and sanitary products and daily necessities (such as silicone kitchenware, silicone gifts, etc.).

In conclusion

Platinum silicone is a new type of polymer material with good thermal stability, oxidation resistance and insulation properties. It is widely used in medical equipment, hydraulic seals, electronic equipment, automotive parts, food packaging, optical devices and other fields, and is widely used in cosmetics, cosmetic plastic surgery and medical beauty fields. Compared with traditional silicone, platinum silicone is more expensive, but has higher stability and less toxicity. It is a greener and environmentally friendly polymer material.