Fig.1 Aquino, K., 180844652 (2011). https://goo.gl/rgwc1E (accessed Feb 15, 2018)
What is it?
Siloxane is basically a monomer of polysiloxane; which you may commonly know as silicone. A monomer is a molecule that is linked to the same molecules to create a large molecule which is a polymer. Siloxane is a molecule that has silicon and oxygen atoms bonded together and can also be linked with other chemical compounds (4).What are some common uses?
Siloxane is a very popular chemical ingredient in most personal care products. It can be found in most moisturizers, lotions, and shampoos. It acts as a compound that allows these products to spread easily when applying them (2). Siloxane is also used in other ways. Take a look around your house; most of the things that was used to build the structure of your house and other buildings contain siloxane. It is used to keep most things sealed. it also insulates electric components (2). It can also be found in different types of binding material and can be used as a protective layer over most materials (2).
Why is it important to use?
Siloxane has many properties that makes it useful. Some of these properties include:
- heat resistance (2)
- water repellent (2)
- it is odorless (1)
- it can withstand against extreme forms of cold and hot temperatures (2)
- it can withstand most chemicals (2)
- can be used in products to make it spread easily (3)
These properties make siloxane useful to most of the household products we carry.
Can it be dangerous?
Most siloxane containing compounds are not dangerous at all. In fact, it is not toxic. It does not cause any eye or skin irritation (1). If swallowed in large amounts then it may cause stomach problems (1). However, there are some compounds of siloxane than can be very toxic. Some of them include cylcopentasiloxane (D5) and cyclotetrasiloxane (D4) (3). These chemicals can affect your reproductive system, your nervous system and hormone regulators of your body. It also affects water sources like rivers and streams as it does not decompose easily (5).
Some Alternatives
In the cosmetic industry, most companies have chosen to make products that are silicone free. Some chemicals that can be used instead of silicone, but also gives the same properties, would be Dicaprylyl ether; this chemical acts the same way as silicone but it comes from vegetables (4). Secondly, there is another alternative called Gluadin WLM Benz. This chemical comes from biodegradable and renewable sources (4). Lastly, there is Coco-caprylate (Cetiol C5, Cognis) (4). This compound can be used instead of silicone in hair products like shampoos and conditioners because it comes from wheat (4).
Fun Facts!
Did you know....
Because of siloxane's/silicone's useful properties, it was first used to make Neil Armstrong's boot that he used to make the famous foot print on the moon (2).
It was also used as the first breast implants for cosmetic surgery in the 1960s (2).
References
1. Canadian Centre for Occupational health and Safety. Polydimethylsiloxane, 2013. CHEMINFO.
http://ccinfoweb2.ccohs.ca.libproxy.mtroyal.ca/cheminfo/records/15E.html (accessed Feb 14, 2018).
2. Schlager, N. E., Weisblatt, J., and Newton, E. D., Polysiloxane. Chemicql Compounds 2006. Vol.2. P591-596
archResultsType=SingleTab&searchType=BasicSearchForm¤tPosition=1&docId=GALE%7CCX344
700143&docType=Topic+overview&sort=RELEVANCE&contentSegment=&prodId=GVRL&contentSet=
ALE%7CCX3441700143&searchId=R1&userGroupName=mtroyalc&inPS=true (accessed Feb 14, 2018).
3. David Suzuki Foundation. The Dirty Dozen:siloxane (n.d). Davidsuzuki
https://davidsuzuki.org/queen-of-green/dirty-dozen-siloxanes/ (accesesed Feb 14, 2018).
4. Rennie, R.(2016). Siloxanes. In A Dictionary of Chemistry. : Oxford University Press
0198722823-e-3736. (accessed Feb 15, 2018).
5. Surita, C. S., and Barrin, T. Emergence and fate of cyclic volatile polydimethylsiloxanes (D4, D5) in municipal waste streams: Release mechanisms, partitioning and persistence in air, water, soil and sediments. Science of the Total Environment [Online] 2014, Volume, 15, 468–469. (accessed Feb 15, 2018)
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