09. Silicon

Yesterday, it wasn't a joke about rain and thunder nationwide..?

I forgot to leave the door open, but when I entered it rained..

Fortunately, it didn't leak much so I was able to process it quickly...

Talking about the leaking rain reminds me of my cousin who runs a ramen restaurant.

He said that on a very rainy day, it was raining on the window sill of the store,

so he almost fell into the store.

 

Perhaps it was remodeling, but the silicone finish on the window frame was poor.

She said she worked well!

So, I think of an episode like this, so today, I'm going to introduce Silicon.

 

Silicon is silicon (Si) corresponding to No. 14 in the chemical periodic table, that is, atomic number 14. However, most of us don't call it silicon, we call it silicon as it is.

In more detail, silicon is a polymer that is a combination of silicon (Si) and oxygen (O).

Here, a polymer is a type of polymer in which units are repeatedly bonded.

Therefore, silicone can make various kinds of polymers (silicon)

depending on the polymerization method.

At this time, if the degree of polymerization is low, it is classified as silicone oil (silicone oil),

and the one with high degree of polymerization is called silicone rubber.

 

 

 

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So, when and how was silicon discovered and made?

Next, let's take a brief look at the history of silicon.

Silicon oxide (SiO2), a compound of silicon and oxygen mentioned above, has been known since ancient times, and silica sand has been used as a raw material for glass manufacturing since ancient Egypt.

Silica means sand made of silicon oxide (SiO2).

Since then, in 1822, the Swedish chemist Bercelius first discovered silicon as a single element,

and later studied a method of reducing it to metallic potassium.

Therefore, it has been used as a raw material for semiconductors

and various resins, especially in metal materials.

Doesn't it seem like something different from the silicone we know?

The silicone that we commonly know seems to have a soft, baby ball-like touch.

Both are correct!!

What you think about is silicon, and what I described above is silicon.

This is because silicone is seen in a variety of forms and used for a variety of purposes.

 

 

 

 

 

To briefly explain the characteristics of silicone, silicone has no odor and no color.

In addition, oxidation is slow, and it acts as a stable insulator

because it is resistant to high temperatures.

So where are these silicones being used?

 

 

Silumin frying pan

 

Silumin, a mixture of aluminum and silicon, is also used in frying pans.

In addition, silicon and copper meet and are used for telephone lines and electrical signals.

 

And it is also used as a lubricant,

It can also be met in the form of glue.

 

There are also silicones used for breast surgery.

And when you need to build fake pectoral muscles, they also use silicone.

 

Because silicone resists high temperatures, it is commonly used in kitchenware such as pot holders,

pot handles, and baking tools.

 

And there's something we always have by our side.

Smartphone.

 

I wear a case to protect this smartphone, as you've seen a lot, this case also uses silicone!

That's why they are often referred to as'silicon cases'.

However, you might have thought that all of them are silicone because it feels soft,

but there are cases made of TPU, one of the types of plastic.

The simplest way to tell is if the case is cracked with a fingernail,

you can tell it by either silicone or TPU!

 

Lastly, as I said in the first episode, it can be used for sealing windows or for water repellency!

 

 

 

 

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Silicon is used in so many different forms and uses that it was surprising

and strange when I first said that silicon is used in semiconductors.

And I drop my smartphone so often that I always order the case thick, a

nd I used to think that the pastel colored case was the prettiest. :)

 

I don't know if my gibberish explanation was helpful.

But I hope it helps,

Thank you again today :)