Silicon: Leading through Openness

Overview of the Silicon Market

Silicone is a non-metallic, inorganic material that can be either clear or opaque. Depending on the silicone rubber recipe used, it can be hard and brittle or soft and rubber-like. Silicone exhibits excellent resistance to chemical attack, even at elevated temperatures. It is relatively inert chemically and biologically.

It does not undergo hydrolysis like some plasticizers, nor does it break down under most common environmental conditions. Silicone rubber is also resistant to degradation under physical conditions such as extreme heat or cold, solvents, and organic chemicals.

Some silicone is used in highly pure forms, such as trade varnishes, to coat metal alloys and prevent oxidation. They are also used to manufacture flexible silicone rubber sheets for specialized applications, such as shock absorbers for automobile hoods, which are typically made from synthetic rubbers.

Other applications include heat-resistant elastomers for hand and machine gloves, dielectric materials in capacitors and insulating films, sealing pipe joints in construction, and producing high-temperature insulation tape.

The earliest silicone rubber was made by adding chlorosilanes to polyvinyl chloride rubber. This basic formula remains the most widely used and important type of silicone rubber.

Silicone rubber is manufactured using two primary methods: the emulsion process and the solution process. The traditional emulsion method could not produce the higher-molecular-weight silicones needed for a variety of applications. The solution process allows the production of both high- and low-molecular-weight silicones.

Silicon, a chemical element obtained from various types of silicon dioxide, such as sand, through heating or roasting, is essential for plants and animals. It constitutes about three percent of the Earth’s crust.

Silicon has numerous applications, including semiconductors, and is used to produce polysilicon, which can be processed into silicon metal for wires or tubes in semiconductor devices.

Silicon belongs to the larger family of metalloids. The benchmark industrial grade purity level for silicon metal is 99%. It can exist as a pure metal, silicide, or silicon carbide (a hard ceramic). Other metalloids include boron and Germanium.

An alternative spelling, silicium, is more commonly used in Europe. The name "silicon" originates from the Greek word for flint, reflecting its natural occurrence as crystals in certain types of rocks.

Humans have used silicon in manufacturing and microprocessors since it was first extracted from sandstone in 1824 by Italian chemist Amedeo Avogadro. It is toxic if ingested and can cause respiratory distress. Silicon gained prominence with the creation of integrated circuits, which form the basis of modern electronics.

Humphry Davy first isolated silicon in 1811 by heating a mixture of sand and potassium carbonate, while Friedrich Wöhler isolated it in its metallic state in 1824.

Regional Analysis

Regional analysis of the silicon and silicone markets shows that North America, particularly the U.S. and Canada, drives demand due to growth in electronics, automotive, and construction sectors, supported by innovations in microelectronics.

Europe, led by Germany, France, and the UK, emphasizes high-purity silicone production, regulatory compliance, and sustainability. The Asia-Pacific region, especially China, Japan, and India, dominates global production owing to rapid industrialization, semiconductor manufacturing, and automotive expansion.

Latin American markets such as Brazil and Mexico exhibit moderate growth driven by construction and industrial demand, while the Middle East and Africa see opportunities mainly in infrastructure, energy, and construction projects, with potential for adopting renewable and advanced manufacturing technologies.