Innovative silicone technology from Dow Corning now enables designers and manufacturers to provide their customers with home appliances that are safer, longer-lasting and more durable and reliable.
Silicone-based sealants can be used in a range of home appliances such as steam irons, coffee makers, microwave ovens, washing machines, refrigerators and dishwashers and many others.
Silicone-based materials last longer, function better under harsh environments, and help lower costs by improving performance - thus providing many advantages over the traditionally used organic polymer materials. Silicones offer stability over a wider temperature range - they can be used at temperatures from -85° to 599° F (-65° to 315° C). They provide high resistance to UV rays, radiation and weather, and thus prevent hardening, cracking, crumbling and drying. Silicones do not readily degrade even under long-term exposure to many chemicals and atmospheric pollutants. They also provide better adhesion to a wide variety of materials such as glass, ceramics, painted surfaces, and many metals and plastics.
These exceptional properties of silicones make them the ideal material for use in home appliances:
- In steam irons silicone sealants are used to adhere the sole plate, seal the steam chamber and provide water resistance and insulation for electrical connections.
- Silicone sealants are used in coffee makers to seal electrical parts, offer high green strength and good adhesion between plastic and glass.
- Silicone sealants provide strong heat-resistant seals in microwave ovens, as well as long-term flexibility in adhering gaskets and seals. In washing machines silicone sealants are used to seal the tub, water pump and distributor, and also provide water resistance for electrical area protection.
- Silicones sealants are used in refrigerators to help bond the gasket to its cover, and also provide adhesion while applying the shelf trim. The refrigerator seam can also be sealed using silicone sealants.
"As a global leader in innovative silicone technologies, Dow Corning provides expertise that goes beyond products. We partner with designers and manufacturers of home appliances to understand their needs, and provide solutions that meet these needs exactly. Whether you need to boost performance, lower costs, or increase customer satisfaction with your systems, modules and components, we can help", said David Garner, Dow Corning's commercial manager (India/ Middle East) for the appliance industry.