What Are the Benefits of Dimethicone?

Silicon is a bountiful naturally occurring element---it is the principal component of sand. Silicon eagerly combines with hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon to make several stable molecules. Long chains (polymers) of silicon compounds are some of the most common substances in nature and some of the most common products to come out of the laboratories as well. One of the most useful types of these is the dimethicone products.

Structure

• Dimethicone is the common name for a polymer of Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)----long chains of Si(CH3)2O molecules. It is a transparent and inert chemical compound with a variety of uses. One form of dimethicone works as a hair remover and another form is added to shampoos because it makes hair shiny. Other forms of dimethicone are used for contact lenses and still other forms are used as high quality lubricating oils. It is also naturally fire-resistant and is a typical addition to fire-resistant tiles. The length of the polymer, the branching, and the links between chains all effect the behavior of the dimethicone and hence the chemical and mechanical properties of the compound. Short chains tend to be liquid and long chains tend to produce solid substances.

Types

• There are hundreds of beneficial variations on the basic dimethicone blueprint. Short chains tend to be oil-like and have uses as lubricates. Longer chains tend to be rubber-like and have uses as heat-resistant, non-toxic cookware. The addition of short side chains (aka functional groups) can change dimethicone in fundamental ways. For example, dimethicone is usually very resistant to mixing with water so it is often a component of sealers. Addition of SiOH side groups makes dimethicone very water-absorbing but the altered dimethicone now repels substances that don't mix with water. Different side groups can make dimethicone react differently to water and to other substances. A good example of the peculiar characteristics of this substance is the fact that dimethicone is a major component of Silly Putty.

Benefits

• The chief benefit of dimethicone is that it is a palette for creating chemical substances. The backbone of the polymer is silicon----one of the cheapest and most readily available substances on earth. The variations are almost always made by adding hydrogen, oxygen, or carbon----also cheap and readily available. These three elements combine easily with the silicon backbone to make polymers. Links and side chains tend to use the same three additives and these (along with polymer length) can make a variety of substances with a multitude of properties. Some of the benefits not already mentioned are: caulking, cosmetics, stomach antacids, plastic surgery implants, mold release agents, soothing skin lotions, herbicides, mold preventatives, and as a component in the space shuttle re-entry heat shield tiles.