The left diagram shows
a section from a typical silicone molecule.
It is essentially
an organically modified quartz, i.e. two oxygen atoms
attached to every silicon atom have been
replaced by methyl groups. This changes the structure
from the three-dimensional backbone of quartz to linear
polymer
molecules.
Silicones therefore are composed of the elements Si,
O, C and H. Silicone molecules are usually tangled
up in each
other. However, the methyl groups are free to rotate
about the -Si-O-Si- chain (see also the video as
wmv or mov).
Other
groups can be attached to the silicon-oxygen backbone
instead of methyl groups.
The linear silicone polymers can be crosslinked
to each other to different extents, i.e. covalently
via
groups
of atoms. This explains the various different properties
of the corresponding silicones (silicone
resin, silicone
rubber). |