The term “silicone” refers to a diverse family of materials with an array of unique and useful properties.

After oxygen, silicon is the second most abundant element in the earth's crust. Silicon does not occur as a single element in nature, but is found combined with oxygen as silica. Silica is reduced in an electric arc furnace to produce silicon metal, which is combined with other compounds in complex chemical reactions to produce silicones? a class of synthetic resins with both organic and inorganic characteristics.
Silicones consist of a backbone of siloxane linkages (Si-O-Si), with various organic groups attached to the silicon atoms. Silicones exhibit an array of unique characteristics and are produced in many forms, including silicone fluids, resins, liquid rubbers and solid rubbers. Silicone products are used in nearly every industry imaginable, in applications including electric and electronic devices, construction, automobiles, cosmetic products, toiletries and the chemical industry.