Buildings
Structure, lining, insulation or finish depending on family.
Darker cells mean a higher score for this topic on that metric.
Strength28
Heat resistance80
Fire performance62
Insulation42
Workability76
Circularity40
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Last reviewed Sources & creditsMedia creditsMethodology
Quick answers
Is Silicone non-combustible?
Declared reaction class in this atlas: often high LOI vs organic rubbers. Assemblies still need resistance tests.
Does Silicone insulate?
Thermal mark 42/100 versus the atlas. Conductivity note: ~0.2 W/m·K; filled greases conduct.
What is the density band?
~1.1–1.5 g/cm³
How is it made?
Origin story: Kipping / Rochow 1940s (United Kingdom / US).
Can it be recycled?
Circularity mark 40/100 — editorial, route-specific.
Typical melting or failure heat?
elastomer; resins cure
heat 80 · fire 62
Silicone earns its keep in systems: a beam, a batt, a fibre blend, a coated steel — rarely a lone coupon.
Products below are cultural landmarks as much as SKUs.
Sectors
Transport
Mass, fire and fatigue rewrite the grade list.
Energy
Heat, voltage and hydrogen compatibility.
Consumer
The volume that pays for the mill.
Medical / food
When allowed — extractables and allergies matter.
Defence / safety
Ballistics, FR clothing, fire stops.
Products
Eugene Rochow
1940
Dow Corning
1943
Muffin pan
1990s–
Façade sealant
1970s–
Baby teat
1980s–
Space gasket lore
1960s
Thermal paste
1990s–
Keypad
1980s–
Pairings
rubber
The carbon-chain tyre elastomer.
ptfe
The other kitchen high-temp polymer.
glass
SiO2 cousin in a different kingdom.
polyurethane-foam
Rival gap-filler chemistry in buildings.
If the pairing is wrong, the material will be blamed for a system fault.
Keep exploring
More in Polymers
🧴
Polyethylene
The world’s volume plastic — bags, bottles, pipes and the UHMWPE cousin in medical and ballistic fibre.
Overall 40 🍳PTFE
Plunkett’s slippery fluoropolymer — non-stick, chemical linings and a high-temp plastic that still has a fire-and-fume story.
Overall 41 🛞Natural rubber
Cis-1,4-polyisoprene from Hevea — tyres still drink most of the world’s latex.
Overall 44