Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is the simplest member of the silicone polymer family. It is formed by hydrolyzing Me2SiCl2, which is produced from high-purity SiO2聽and CH2Cl2聽by the Muller鈥揜ochow reaction. The term 鈥渟ilicone鈥� was coined by chemist F. S. Kipping in 1901.
Low鈥搈olecular weight PDMS is a liquid used in lubricants, antifoaming agents, and hydraulic fluids. Its use in breast implants is not as popular as it once was because of safety concerns.
At higher molecular weights, PDMS is a soft, compliant rubber or resin. It is used in caulks, sealants, an even Silly Putty. More recently, PDMS resins have been used in soft lithography, a key process in biomedical microelectromechanical systems (bio-MEMS).聽
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