Polydimethylsiloxane fluid is a non-reactive, silicon-based organic polymer. It is a liquid that is usually clear, odorless and tasteless with low surface tension (20-30 dyn/cm).
It has many unique properties which make it useful to humans.
It can be used in adhesives, 化粧品, de-icers & de-icers, engine oil additives for preventing carbon deposits in car engines, elastomers & elastomeric composites, lubricant applications, medical applications (例えば, anti-fouling coatings), microfluidics and biomedical fields (例えば, implants).
It is also used as a filler fluid in silicone rubber, which gives it good thermal insulation and mechanical strength. 加えて, it is edible and can be used as a baby formula milk replacer.
Polydimethylsiloxane fluid is also useful in various industries, such as textile and printing ones. 例えば, it can be used to apply a protective layer on clothing that repels water or oil, which reduces stains and extends the life of these clothes. 加えて, by changing the surface tension of this silicone oil, manufacturers of printing inks can achieve specialized functions such as preventing smudging.
It is often found in skincare products, such as shampoos and hair treatments. It makes hair shinier and stronger by coating the surface of each strand with silicone atoms. It also acts as a lubricant for the cuticle of the hair, which combats static electricity.
It has also been used to construct artificial muscles that can lift to 100,000 times their weight. These muscles are composed of carbon nanotubes and cost significantly less than traditional ones, such as the electric motor-based ones.
It is still being investigated for some applications, such as airbags. And it has a high degree of elasticity, which makes it highly suitable for airplane wings.
