A total of 390,000 tons of silicone products is sold into this sector each year and is used in a wide range of final products in the personal care and consumer products sector.
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Benefits in Personal Care
Silicone polymers and cyclic siloxanes are used in this sector as solvents and carriers for many products. In the personal care product sector, they are used in:
- Deodorants
- Hair, skin, and sun care products
- Makeup
They provide a glossy, silky, or “smooth” feel as well as other processing benefits, which include transparency, lack of taste or odor, rapid evaporation from skin, and low skin irritability.
Silicones at Home
In consumer products, silicones are used to make:
- Household polishes
- Laundry detergents
- Waxes
- Kitchen products
- Baby and infant products
- Sporting goods
- Pet Products
The fact that silicones are pliable and bacteria-and-heat resistant make it an ideal durable material for use in the kitchen. Silicone kitchen tool varieties are endless, with products ranging from baking molds and oven mitts to collapsible food containers and sippy cups. Silicone kitchen tools’ resistance to high temperatures, hygienic properties and safety for human health, even after extensive use, make them a reliable and convenient partner in the kitchen.
Silicones Provide Energy Savings
When silicones are used in the consumer product sector, they provide significant energy savings.
For example, silicones are used as an antifoaming agent in laundry detergents and fabric softeners, which helps reduce water and energy consumption in washing machines.
Silicones are used in dry cleaning because they help carry detergent while rinsing away suspended dirt and oils trapped by the detergent, therefore maintaining the quality and color of cleaned clothes, while not interacting directly with the clothing being cleaned. And, silicone treatments keep textiles soft, even with repeated washings.
As finishes for textile products, silicones help fabrics retain shape, texture, and provide resistance to abrasion. Silicones enable new techniques to design sportswear that is lightweight, durable, water repellent, and high performing, while allowing the fabric to breathe.
