What is the Difference Between Silicone and Silica

Thekey difference between silicone and silica是硅酮是一种聚合物材料，而二氧化硅是二氧化硅。

硅ne and silica are industrially important materials. Both these substances contain硅atoms as a component. However, these two substances have different chemical and physical properties, which make them useful in different applications.

CONTENTS

1.Overview and Key Difference
2.What is Silicone
3.什么是二氧化硅
4.硅ne vs Silica in Tabular Form
5.Summary – Silicone vs Silica

What is Silicone?

硅ne is a polymer consisting of siloxane. Therefore, it is also known aspolysiloxane. Silicone typically occurs as a colorless oil or as a rubber-like substance. It is useful in sealants, adhesives, lubricants, medicine, cooking utensils, thermal insulation, etc. There are some common forms of silicone, such as silicone oil, silicone grease, silicone rubber, silicone resin, silicone caulk, etc.

硅ne contains an inorganic silicon-oxygen backbone chain. This chain consists of two organic groups attached to each silicon center. Generally, the organic groups aremethyl groups. This material can exist as either cyclic structures or polymeric structures. We can vary the –Si-O- chain length, side groups, crosslinking, etc. We can also synthesize silicones with a wide variety of properties and compositions. The consistency of silicone can vary from liquid to gel to rubber to solid-hard plastic.

有机硅的性质

We can list down the important properties of silicone as follows:

1. Low thermal conductivity
2. Low chemical reactivity
3. Low toxicity
4. Thermal stability
5. Repelling water
6. No sticking into many substrates
7. No support for microbial growth
8. 电绝缘
9. High gas permeability
10. 对氧气，臭氧和紫外线的抗性

什么是二氧化硅?

The term silica is the common name for silicon dioxide, and it is an oxide of silicon. We use this term to name the purest form of SiO2. It occurs in石英and as components in living organisms. Its molar mass is 60.08 g/mol. It appears as a transparent solid. The melting point and boiling points are 1,713 °C and 2,950 °C, respectively.

硅n dioxide molecules show a tetrahedral geometry, with four oxygen atoms surrounding a silicon atom. Moreover, silicon dioxide has many crystalline forms; we call them polymorphs. There are some amorphous forms as well. In addition, we can convert silicon dioxide into silicon via a reduction reaction with carbon.

二氧化硅有很多用途。我们将其用于生产波特兰水泥，在液压压裂中以沙子铸造作为生产玻璃的先驱，以使电信的光纤作为食物添加剂等。

What is the Difference Between Silicone and Silica?

硅胶和二氧化硅是重要的无机材料。通常，硅酮主要使用天然存在的二氧化硅制成。有机硅和二氧化硅之间的关键区别在于，硅酮是一种聚合物材料，而二氧化硅是二氧化硅。我们可以轻松地从硅，氧，碳和氢之间的反应中制备硅树脂。但是，为了制备二氧化硅，我们使用硅和氧气。

有许多使用有机硅和二氧化硅。硅ne is useful in the manufacture of cake moulds, cooking utensils, electrical insulation, adhesives, etc. On the other hand, silica is important in the manufacture of glass, ceramics, optical fibers, desiccants, etc.

Summary – Silicone vs Silica

硅ne is a polymer consisting of siloxane. The term silica is the common name for silicon dioxide, and it is an oxide of silicon. The key difference between silicone and silica is that silicone is a polymeric material, whereas silica is silicon dioxide.

Reference:

1. “硅ne.”百科全书大不列颠，百科全书大不列颠公司
2. “硅nes: Uses, Benefits, and Chemical Safety Facts.”ChemicalSafetyFacts.org.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Caulking” Achim Hering - 自己的工作(CC BY 3.0)via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Sample of silicon dioxide” By LHcheM – Own work(CC BY-SA 3.0)via Commons Wikimedia