Silicone vs. Silastic — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 16, 2024
Silicone is a versatile synthetic polymer used widely in products from cookware to electronics, while Silastic is a specific type of silicone rubber known for its durability and used in medical and industrial applications.
Difference Between Silicone and Silastic
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Silicone, a synthetic polymer made from silicon, oxygen, and other elements like carbon and hydrogen, is celebrated for its stability and resistance to extreme temperatures and environments. On the other hand, Silastic, a trademarked form of silicone rubber, is specifically formulated to be exceptionally durable and is frequently used in environments where material integrity is critical.
Silicone is available in various forms including fluids, resins, and rubbers, each suited to different industrial applications such as lubricants, adhesives, and sealants. Whereas Silastic is primarily available as a rubber or elastomer, specialized for use in medical devices and implants due to its biocompatibility.
The manufacturing process of silicone can vary widely depending on its form and intended use, involving different curing methods and additives. In contrast, Silastic is typically produced through a precise vulcanization process that enhances its physical properties to meet specific requirements, like increased elasticity or resistance to chemicals.
Silicone products are ubiquitous in daily life, found in everything from kitchen utensils and bakeware to sealants and electronic components. On the other hand, Silastic is often used in more specialized applications such as tubing in medical devices, gaskets, and seals in automotive and aerospace industries.
Comparison Chart
Composition
Synthetic polymer (silicon-based)
Specialized silicone rubber
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Forms Available
Fluids, resins, gels, rubbers
Primarily rubbers and elastomers
Common Uses
Cookware, sealants, electronics
Medical implants, automotive seals
Production Process
Varies widely
Precise vulcanization
Key Properties
Heat resistance, flexibility
Enhanced durability, biocompatibility
Compare with Definitions
Silicone
A versatile, synthetic polymer made from silicon and oxygen.
Silicone sealants are used for waterproofing in bathrooms.
Silastic
Used in high-stress mechanical applications like automotive gaskets.
Silastic seals are used in car engines due to their heat resistance.
Silicone
Resistant to heat and cold, making it ideal for kitchenware.
Silicone baking mats can withstand temperatures from -40°F to 480°F.
Silastic
Produced through a controlled vulcanization process to meet strict specifications.
Silastic production involves adding specific catalysts to achieve desired properties.
Silicone
Acts as an insulator in electronic components due to its electrical resistance.
Silicone covers are used to protect smartphone bodies.
Silastic
Offers superior performance in extreme environments.
Silastic components are used in aerospace for their reliability under severe conditions.
Silicone
Available in medical grades that are body-safe.
Medical-grade silicone is used for making surgical implants and tubing.
Silastic
A type of silicone rubber known for its durability and stability.
Silastic tubing is used in peristaltic pumps for medical treatments.
Silicone
Used in the formulation of personal care products for its smoothing effects.
Silicone is often found in hair conditioners to add shine and reduce frizz.
Silastic
Frequently used in the medical field for its biocompatibility.
Silastic is preferred for long-term medical implants.
Silicone
A silicone or polysiloxane is a polymer made up of siloxane (−R2Si−O−SiR2−, where R = organic group). They are typically colorless, oils or rubber-like substances.
Silastic
Silastic (a portmanteau of 'silicone' and 'plastic') is a trademark registered in 1948 by Dow Corning Corporation for flexible, inert silicone elastomer.
Silicone
Any of a class of synthetic materials which are polymers with a chemical structure based on chains of alternate silicon and oxygen atoms, with organic groups attached to the silicon atoms. Such compounds are typically resistant to chemical attack and insensitive to temperature changes and are used to make rubber and plastics and in polishes and lubricants
Silicone rubber
Modern plastics and silicones
Silicone
Join or otherwise treat (something) with a silicone
The raised planting shelf could be siliconed to the back of the tank
Silicone
Any of a large group of oligomers and polymers based on the structural unit R2SiO, where R is an organic group, characterized by wide-range thermal stability, high lubricity, extreme water repellence, and physiological inertness and used in adhesives, lubricants, protective coatings, paints, electrical insulation, synthetic rubber, and prosthetic replacements for body parts.
Silicone
(chemistry) Any of a class of inert, semi-inorganic polymeric compounds (polysiloxanes), that have a wide range of thermal stability and extreme water repellence, used in a very wide range of industrial applications, and in prosthetic replacements for body parts.
Silicone
(transitive) To join or treat (something) with a silicone-based product.
Silicone the bathtub to the tile
Silicone
To enhance or reconstruct (a body part) with a prosthesis containing silicone.
Silicone
Any of a large class of siloxanes that are unusually stable over a wide range of temperatures; used in lubricants and adhesives and coatings and synthetic rubber and electrical insulation
Common Curiosities
Can silicone be used in high-temperature environments?
Yes, silicone is highly resistant to both high and low temperatures, making it suitable for applications like oven mitts and gaskets.
What makes Silastic suitable for medical applications?
Silastic's biocompatibility and stability make it ideal for use in medical devices and implants.
What is the role of silicone in electronics?
Silicone serves as an insulator and protective layer in electronics due to its electrical resistance and durability.
What are the main differences between silicone and Silastic?
Silicone is a broad category of synthetic polymers, while Silastic is a specific type of highly durable silicone rubber.
What are the advantages of Silastic over other materials?
Silastic offers enhanced durability, chemical resistance, and performance in extreme conditions, making it superior for demanding applications such as in the medical, automotive, and aerospace industries.
How is Silastic made?
Silastic is made through a vulcanization process that includes specific catalysts to enhance its properties.
Where is silicone commonly used?
Silicone is used in a wide range of applications including kitchenware, electronics, and cosmetics.
Is all silicone biocompatible like Silastic?
Not all silicone is biocompatible. Silastic is specifically formulated to meet the stringent requirements of medical applications.
Why is Silastic preferred in aerospace applications?
Its ability to withstand extreme environmental conditions and mechanical stress makes Silastic ideal for aerospace applications.
Are silicone products environmentally friendly?
Silicone products are generally durable and have a long lifespan, which can be environmentally beneficial compared to single-use materials. However, silicone does not biodegrade and recycling options are limited.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
