Silicone rubber problems

The early 1980s saw considerable interest in a new form of silicone materials, namely the liquid silicone mbbers. These may be considered as a development from the addition-cured RTV silicone rubbers but with a better pot life and improved physical properties, including heat stability similar to that of conventional peroxide-cured elastomers. The ability to process such liquid raw materials leads to a number of economic benefits such as lower production costs, increased ouput and reduced capital investment compared with more conventional rubbers. Liquid silicone rubbers are low-viscosity materials which range from a flow consistency to a paste consistency. They are usually supplied as a two-pack system which requires simple blending before use. The materials cure rapidly above 110°C and when injection moulded at high temperatures (200-250°C) cure times as low as a few seconds are possible for small parts. Because of the rapid mould filling, scorch is rarely a problem and, furthermore, post-curing is usually unnecessary. 

Currently, breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in both white and African-American women. According to latest reports, of the 662,870 cancer cases reported for women in 2005, 32% were breast cancer. The incidence of breast cancer increased from 1 in 20 in 1960 to 1 in 8 today. More than 100,000 women per year require mastectomy for treatment, and every year 75% decide to have reconstmction. About half the number of these women select prostheses made of silica-reinforced silicone-rubber shell filled with silicone gel, while the other half have the same shell filled with physiological saline. Reportedly, gel-fiUed prostheses feel more natural, but are associated with true or perceived health problems and remain highly controversial. 

To illustrate the problems encountered in supported sensors we present data of two actual systems that we have studied in detail. We focus on oxygen quenching of metal complex dispersed in a silicone rubber and on a hydrophilic silica. 

Combustion products can affect sensitive electronic equipment. For example, hydrogen chloride (HCI) is formed by the combustion of PVC cables. Corrosion due to combusted PVC cable can be a substantial problem. This may result in increased contact resistance of electronic components. Condensed acids may result in the formation of electrolytic cells on surfaces. Certain wire and cable insulation, particularly silicone rubber, can be degraded on exposure to HCI. A methodology for classifying contamination levels and ease of restoration is presented in the SFPE Handbook... 

Coagulation is not the only problem with materials intended for implantation, however. Cardiac pacemakers are intended to correct arrhythmias. Insulating materials for a pacemaker lead must be tough and long lasting. The first leads were insulated with polyethylene or silicone rubber. Neither material was considered ideal because of endocardial reactions (polyethylene) and limited durability (silicone rubber). The strength and flexibility of polyurethanes led to their introduction in 1978 as lead insulators. 

Graftcopolymerization onto silicone rubber is rather difficult to achieve and is often accompanied by unwanted changes in physico-mechanical properties of the polymer caused by initiating agents. To overcome the problem, silica was introduced into the rubber matrix as an active filler capable of binding cationic compounds such a cationic compound being y-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. Schematically the pathway for heparinization of the latter may be presented as follows ... 

The in vivo tests did not give any satisfying answer to the problem of long-term contact of heparin-silicone rubber with blood. The blood-surface interaction was... 

Because the membrane selectivity and pressure ratio achievable in a commercial membrane system are limited, a one-stage membrane system may not provide the separation desired. The problem is illustrated in Figure 8.16. The target of the process is 90% removal of a volatile organic compound (VOC), which is the permeable component, from the feed gas, which contains 1 vol% of this component. This calculation and those that immediately follow assume a feed gas mixture VOC and nitrogen. Rubbery membranes such as silicone rubber permeate the VOC preferentially because of its greater condensability and hence solubility in the membrane. In this calculation, the pressure ratio is fixed at 20... 

The hydrophobicity of the surface prevents the wetting by tear and tends to expose dry surface of a contact lens. Therefore, rapid dehydration of the corneal tissues could occur, which could cause the damage of corneal epithelium. However, this explanation seems to be oversimplified in light of the adsorption of protein, which makes a hydrophobic surface wettable by tear fluid, as described in Chapter 26. Moreover, the highly hydrophobic surface characteristic of silicone rubber tends to encourage the deposition of protein and mucus of the tear on the surface of the lens. Lipids and lipid-soluble materials follow the same track and eventually penetrate into the bulk phase of the contact lens. Because of these undesirable factors, the use of silicone contact lenses of various chemical compositions and with surface treatments has not been successful but rather disastrous because of the interfacial characteristics of silicone contact lens on the cornea, which cannot be oflfset by these efforts. It indicates that more profound surface modification to cope with the problems rather than mere surface treatment is needed in capitalizing on the advantageous bulk properties of silicone polymers. 

The major problems associated with silicone rubber used for contact lens stem from the surface properties. The surface is hydrophobic and hinders the spontaneous... 

---