Difference between revisions of "Silicone cure systems"

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Chemically, a silicone elastomer can be cured into a solid via an 'addition' reaction or a 'condensation' reaction.  An addition reaction may use catalysts (platinum or tin) but the condensation process also requires oxygen and moisture. The addition of UV light or heat will decrease the cure time. Silicone polymers cured in open air at room temperature can be called RTV (Room Temperature Vulcanization).
 
Chemically, a silicone elastomer can be cured into a solid via an 'addition' reaction or a 'condensation' reaction.  An addition reaction may use catalysts (platinum or tin) but the condensation process also requires oxygen and moisture. The addition of UV light or heat will decrease the cure time. Silicone polymers cured in open air at room temperature can be called RTV (Room Temperature Vulcanization).
  
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Types of Silicone cures include:
 
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Revision as of 11:53, 13 September 2022

Description

Any of a large group of semi-inorganic polymers based on siloxanes. Silicones were first discovered by F.S. Kipping in England in 1904, but were not commercially produced as polymers until 1943 by Dow Corning and 1946 by General Electric. They were called silicones because their empirical formula (R2SiO) is similar to that for ketones (R2CO) (Lewis, 1993). Once cured silicone resins can be liquids, gels, and elastomers as well as solid thermoplastic or thermosetting resins. The curing process, however, can be done by several methods, each resulting in different cure times, volatiles emission and product characteristics.

Chemically, a silicone elastomer can be cured into a solid via an 'addition' reaction or a 'condensation' reaction. An addition reaction may use catalysts (platinum or tin) but the condensation process also requires oxygen and moisture. The addition of UV light or heat will decrease the cure time. Silicone polymers cured in open air at room temperature can be called RTV (Room Temperature Vulcanization).

Types of Silicone cures include:

Mechanism By-Product Effect Comments
Acetoxy acetic acid corrosive may contain tin catalyst that can be harmful to electronics
Oxime ketoxime mildly corrosive may contain tin catalyst that can be harmful to electronics
Alkoxy methanol non corrosive
Acetone acetone non corrosive
Amine ammonia usually used in combinations with alkoxy systems

Advantages and Disadvantages of the types of cure systems include:

1-Part Condensation Cure 2-Part Condensation Cure 1-Part Addition Cure 2-Part Addition Cure
Easy to apply Tolerant catalyst ratios Easy to apply Excellent deep section cure
No mix-no mix error Low risk of cure failure No mix-no mix error Pot life extension
Easy dispensing Deep section cure No cure reversal No cure reversal
Max 10mm thickness Cure acceleration possible Adhesion hard to achieve Cure acceleration with heat
Fixed cure speed Small increase in shrinkage Prone to cure failure Optically clear available
Narrow viscosity range Cure reversal possible Shorter shelf life Low shrinkage
Cure reversal possible Prone to cure failure
Requires accurate mix
Good adhesion difficult

Synonyms and Related Terms

polysiloxane; silicona (Esp.); silicone (Fr.); silicone (It.); silicone (Port.); organosiloxane; silicones

Examples: Silastic [Dow];

Risks

Resources and Citations

  • Silicone Technologies: Cure Systems
  • Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993
  • Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997
  • The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998
  • M.Kaufman, The First Century of Plastics, The Plastics and Rubber Institute, London, 1963
  • History of Plastics: www.nswpmith.com.au/historyofplastics.html - discovered by F.S. Kipping in 1904

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