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According to some chemistry textbooks, “silica gel” refers to a condensation product of silicon dioxide, with the molecular formula mSiO₂·H₂O. This type of silica gel is a highly active adsorbent material, belonging to the category of amorphous substances. It is insoluble in water and any solvents, non-toxic, odorless, and chemically stable. Except for strong alkalis and hydrofluoric acid, it does not react with any other substances. This is the same type of silica gel commonly used in medical applications such as rhinoplasty and breast implants.
However, in the mold-making industry, the term “silicone” does not refer to the hydrated form of silicon dioxide mentioned above. Instead, it generally refers to a type of polysiloxane. Simply put, in the mold-making industry, “silicone” is a type of synthetic rubber that contains silicon atoms, thus earning the name “silicone rubber,” which is often shortened to “silicone.”
Silicone used in the mold-making industry comes in various types and serves different purposes. The performance of these products varies significantly depending on the raw materials used. However, in general, this type of “silicone” (more accurately called silicone rubber) is showing a trend of replacing traditional rubber in the future.
When we refer to “silicone,” it often does not strictly mean the condensation product of silicon dioxide, nor does it specifically refer to the silicon-based synthetic rubber used in mold-making. Instead, both of these materials are commonly called “silicone.”
At this point, we can categorize “silicone” into organic silicone and inorganic silicone. Inorganic silicone refers to the first type mentioned—hydrated silicon dioxide.
Silicon-based synthetic rubber used in mold-making is referred to as organic silicone because it contains hydrocarbon groups. In some contexts, silicone rubber is described as being “between organic and inorganic materials.” However, most manufacturers of silicone rubber classify their products under organic silicone.
Given these three different interpretations, the term “silicone” is quite ambiguous. Unfortunately, there are currently no official national regulations defining its usage.
Therefore, whenever we hear the term “silicone,” it is essential to clarify whether it refers to silicon dioxide, silicon-based synthetic rubber, inorganic silicone, or organic silicone.
