Shin-Etsu Chemical has developed a thermoplastic silicone that achieves recyclability, previously difficult to realize with conventional silicone rubber.
Plastic and rubber products are classified into two types: thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics. Thermoplastics soften and flow when heated and solidify when cooled, making them suitable for recycling. On the other hand, thermosetting plastics harden (crosslink) when heated, which makes recycling difficult. Silicone rubber is generally classified as thermosetting.
By leveraging polymer modification technology cultivated over many years, the newly developed thermoplastic silicone achieves the following characteristics.
The major features and benefits:
- Recyclable due to its thermoplastic nature.
- High hardness (Shore A 80 or higher) combined with high elongation (elongation at break: 800% or higher), unlike conventional silicone rubber.
- Excellent transparency and ease of coloring due to the absence of inorganic powders (such as silica).
- Excellent processability, allowing injection molding like plastics.
- Solvent-based formulation capability for coating applications.
- Pleasant texture, retaining the distinctive soft feel of silicone.
Shin-Etsu Chemical’s thermoplastic silicone can provide products tailored to diverse customer needs, ranging from rubber-like elastic materials to plastic-like rigid materials. Due to its characteristics, new applications that would not be possible with conventional silicone rubber are expected, including rubber components for areas that come into contact with skin in mobile devices and sports equipment as well as surface coatings for devices used in medical and nursing care.
Please visit the link for more details about our new products, and don’t hesitate to contact us through our sales team or using the contact form for any questions, sample requests, or other inquiries.
