What Is Silicone Tubing?
Silicone tubing is a tubular product made primarily of silicone rubber. They are commercially available in a variety of lengths and diameters and can be used flexibly according to the purpose and application.
Silicone rubber, also known as silicon rubber, is a type of organic silicon compound polymer. Its main backbone is siloxane bonds (-Si-O-Si-), which have high bonding energy.
It has excellent heat resistance, chemical resistance, and electrical insulation properties. These properties are used to transport chemicals and for protective covers.
The Difference Between Silicon and Silicone
The term silicon refers to the element silicon itself. On the other hand, silicone is a polymer of organosilicon compounds, such as silicone rubber, silicone resin, and silicone oil.
In other words, these two compounds are completely different and should be treated with caution. However, these two terms are often used interchangeably, and the usage of “silicone tube” applies to this as well.
Uses for Silicone Tubing
Silicone tubing has excellent chemical resistance and is used to transfer chemicals, fuels, and other materials that would otherwise corrode with plastics.
They are also frequently used in research and development, quality control, analysis, and testing, where a variety of chemicals must be used.
Silicone tubing also has an excellent heat resistance and is used in hoses for hot water heaters and bathtubs.
They also have electrical insulating properties and are used for insulation and protective covering applications for home appliances and electric wires.
Principles of Silicone Tubing
Silicone tubing is a tubular product made of silicone rubber.
Silicon, a non-metallic element with atomic number 14 and element symbol Si, is one of the most abundant elements in the earth’s crust.
Generally, silicone rubber is made from highly polymerized dimethylpolysiloxane, an organosilicon compound.
The siloxane bond (-Si-O-Si-) is the main structure, with substituents such as methyl groups attached to the side chains.
The siloxane bond has a higher bond energy than other bonds, such as C-C bonds, and is therefore chemically more stable than ordinary organic polymers, which is reflected in properties such as heat resistance.
Silicone tubing has excellent heat resistance, chemical resistance, oil resistance, water resistance, electrical insulation, and weather resistance. Since they are resistant to chemical reactions with other substances, they are used as tubes for pumping chemicals and analyzers.
It is also tasteless, odorless, and safe, so it can be used as food transport tubing. Since it is also heat resistant, it can be used for packing and protective covers for areas subject to high temperatures, but it deteriorates and breaks when exposed to excessively high temperatures.