The Silicone Industry and its Environmental Impact

Abstract

This chapter presents an overview of silicone technology and the global silicone industry, including the unique properties of silicones, diverse applications, major producers, and their market share. Industry stewardship initiatives and environmental stewardship activities are also discussed. In addition, the missions and membership of the three regional (U.S., Europe, and Japan) health, environmental, and safety organizations are summarized. Although these groups deal with the health, environmental, regulatory, and operational safety aspects of organosilicon materials, the focus in this chapter (and the volume as a whole) has been exclusively on the environmental sciences. The chapter concludes with an environmental impact assessment of three environmentally mobile materials: volatile methylsiloxanes, polydimethylsiloxanes, and polyethermethylsiloxanes.