Silicones Improving Performance In Today’s Offices

By making desks and chairs quieter and more comfortable, copiers and printers more reliable, or windows bigger and more inviting, silicones (PDF size = 651 KB)are helping keep offices productive.

“Silicones are essential to everything we use at work from high-end electronics to our desks and chairs,” said Adam Peterson, Dow Corning (PDF size = 651 KB) Master Project Leader. “The versatility of silicones allows them to be used across some of the most strenuous and yet some of the most sensitive applications.”

Silicones used in industrial applications protect equipment and possessions from water damage, ultraviolet rays, extreme heat or cold, corrosion, chemicals and oils, and microbes. Products created with or protected by silicones are less susceptible to damage (PDF size = 19 KB) from weathering, aging, temperature or climate fluctuations and normal wear and tear.

Equipment

Silicones have played an important role in advancements in computer technology, telecommunications, electronic products, and electrical power distribution. Silicones help seal, bond and encapsulate everything from highly sensitive circuits and microprocessors to semiconductors. Keypads, keyboards and copier rollers are made with silicones - as are housings for computers, fax machines, telephones and entertainment equipment. Long-lasting, plastic-compatible, heat-stable silicone lubricants also reduces noise and maintain reliability in office equipment

Furniture

Silicones help protect furniture from everyday wear and tear such as scratches and abrasions and provide water repellency. Silicones infused in fabrics help preserve “newness” because of their softening properties and its elasticity helps smooth out wrinkles. Silicone lubricants can also be used to help eliminate the peevish noise of squeaky drawers and carts that interrupt the work day.

Architecture

In building and construction, silicone sealants, adhesives and coatings make construction materials work better and longer. As a window sealant, silicones allow architects to explore new frontiers in architectural designs and aesthetics such as dramatic glass facades or curved and suspended structures to give occupants a sense of spaciousness and a connection with nature while maintaining safety and ecology.

About Dow Corning

Dow Corning provides performance-enhancing solutions to serve the diverse needs of more than 25,000 customers worldwide. A global leader in silicones, silicon-based technology and innovation, Dow Corning offers more than 7,000 products and services via the company’s Dow Corning® and XIAMETER® brands. Dow Corning is a joint venture equally owned by The Dow Chemical Company and Corning Incorporated. More than half of Dow Corning’s annual sales are outside the United States.