Shin-Etsu Chemical has declared the innovation of a latest thermoplastic silicone that obtains recyclability—an advancement long considered tough with conventional silicone rubber. This development is part of the corporation’s silicon chemistry-driven venture, Shin-Etsu Silicones Solution-Engineering.
Plastic and rubber materials are usually classified into thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics. Thermoplastics soften when heated and harden when cooled, creating them suitably for recycling. In contrast, thermosetting plastics—together with conventional silicone rubber—go through irreversible crosslinking while heated, which makes recycling nearly not possible.
By advanced polymer modification technology collected over few years, Shin-Etsu Chemical has efficiently evolved a thermoplastic silicone that surpasses these boundaries. The new material integrates recyclability with outstanding mechanical and aesthetic properties. It provides excessive hardness (Shore A 80 or higher) together with superior elasticity (elongation at break increased 800%), in addition to excellent transparency and colorability because of the absence of inorganic fillers consisting of silica.
The thermoplastic silicone also gives exceptional processability, permitting injection molding similar to standard plastics, and may be created into solvent-based coatings. In spite of its better sturdiness and flexibility, the material maintains the soft, fine texture feature of silicone.
Shin-Etsu Chemical’s latest thermoplastic silicone can be designed to fulfill a extensive variety of customer necessities—from rubber-like elastic materials to plastic-like inflexible forms. Because of those unique properties, it opens new application possibilities that had been earlier unachievable with conventional silicone rubber. Potential utilizes include skin-contact components in mobile devices and sports equipment, as well as coatings for medical and nursing care devices.
