Silicone and plastic are two different materials with some significant differences
The difference between silicone and plastic
Material composition:
Silica gel: Mainly composed of silicon, oxygen, hydrogen and other elements, it is an inorganic polymer material. It is mainly refined from silicon ore.
Plastic: Plastic is usually composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and other elements, and is an organic synthetic polymer material. It is refined from petroleum.
Heat resistance:
Silicone: Has high heat resistance and remains stable at relatively high temperatures.
Plastics: Heat resistance varies by plastic type, and some plastics may soften or break down at high temperatures.
Flexibility:
Silicone: It has good flexibility and elasticity and can be stretched to a certain extent without breaking.
Plastics: The flexibility of plastics varies by type, some plastics are more flexible while others may be relatively brittle.
Chemical stability:
Silica gel: It has good stability to many chemicals and is not susceptible to chemical corrosion.
Plastics: Different plastics have different stability to chemicals, and some may be sensitive to solvents and chemicals.
transparency:
Silicone: Usually transparent or translucent, with good light transmittance.
Plastic: Transparency varies depending on the type of plastic, some are transparent and some are opaque.
What product is more suitable for making silicone products?
The types of products suitable for making silicone products mainly include items that require flexibility, high heat resistance, chemical stability and transparency.
Kitchen Utensils: Soft silicone kitchen utensils such as whisks, baking tins, bakeware and utensils.
Silicone Baby products: baby pacifiers, bottles, baby tableware, etc.
Medical devices: Medical silicone products, such as catheters, breast pump nozzles, etc.
Silicone Crafts and Molds: Silicone for making crafts, sculptures and molds.
Electronic product accessories: Soft silicone is used to make mobile phone protective cases, earphone cases and other accessories.
Seals and Gaskets: Silicone is often used to make seals and gaskets due to its heat resistance and flexibility.
What is plastic?
Plastic is a type of polymer material composed of polymers, which can be divided into many types according to their structure, properties and uses. Here are some common types of plastic:
Polyethylene (PE): Polyethylene is a common plastic with good durability and chemical stability. According to the density, it can be divided into low density polyethylene (LDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE).
Polypropylene (PP): Polypropylene is a lightweight, high-strength plastic commonly used in packaging, textiles, automotive parts, and more.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC): Polyvinyl chloride is a common plastic widely used in construction, wires and cables, medical equipment, pipes and other fields.
Polystyrene (PS): Polystyrene is a clear, rigid plastic that comes in two main types, regular polystyrene (GPPS) and high-impact polystyrene (HIPS).
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET): PET is a transparent, heat-resistant plastic commonly used in beverage bottles, food packaging, fibers, etc.
Polycarbonate (PC): PC is a high-strength, transparent plastic commonly used to make glasses, CDs, water bottles, etc.
Polyetheretherketone (PEEK): PEEK is a high-performance engineering plastic with high temperature resistance and chemical corrosion resistance. It is commonly used in aerospace, medical equipment and other fields.
Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA): PMMA is a transparent, weather-resistant plastic that is commonly used to make acrylic glass and various transparent components.
Polylactic acid (PLA): PLA is a biodegradable plastic, usually made from plant raw materials, and is widely used in environmentally friendly packaging and biomedical fields.
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE): PTFE is a very corrosion-resistant, low-friction plastic often used to make lubricating materials and seals, with brand names including Teflon.
This is just a small selection of plastic types, there are actually many different types of plastics, each with unique properties suitable for a variety of different applications.
About Growjaa Company
If you need to make silicone cake molds, or silicone ice trays and other edible products, you need to choose food-grade silicone molds that are harmless to the human body. If you have higher requirements, you also need to choose medical-grade silicone raw materials to make silicone molds!
