Overview

Silicones are a class of mixed inorganic/organic polymers developed in the early twentieth century. Since their initial discovery, they have been investigated and their uses expanded greatly because of their relative chemical inertness and their tolerance to a wide range of temperatures and environmental conditions. This versatility has made them useful in lubricants, as synthetic rubber, as water repellents, and a number of other uses.

Background

Polymers are large molecules that consist of a large number of connected smaller molecules called monomers. Monomers link together in long chains of tens or hundreds of thousands of units, forming the polymers. Polymers are common in nature. Cellulose, lignin, proteins, and other important biological molecules are all polymers. Perhaps the best known and most important biological polymer is DNA, which consists of a very long sequence of bases (the monomers) that, chemically, are...