silicone Chem.
(ˈsɪlɪkəʊn)
[f. silico- + -one.]
† 1. Also -on. [ad. G. silicon (F. Wöhler 1863, in Ann. d. Chem. u. Pharm. CXXVII. 263).] A yellow solid obtained by the action of concentrated hydrochloric acid on calcium silicide and said to be a compound of silicon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Obs.
| 1863 F. Wohler in Chem. News 10 Oct. 172 The relative proportions of the combined silicium and calcium are in general those necessary to form the compound CaSi2... It is only by means of this compound that we can..explain the composition and mode of formation of the yellow body which is obtained by the action [on it] of hydrochloric acid, and which I shall now describe under the name of Silicon. 1909 Jrnl. Chem. Soc. XCVI. ii. 806 The colourless substance, leucone, which is produced by exposing silicone to light and air, represents an intermediate step in the oxidation of silicone to silicon dioxide. 1946 J. R. Partington Gen. & Inorg. Chem. xviii. 506 By the action of concentrated hydrochloric acid on calcium silicide Wöhler (1863) obtained a yellow solid which he called silicone and formulated Si4H4O3. |
2. a. Formerly, the name given to any supposed compound of silicon analogous to the ketones, having a formula RR{p}SiO (R, R{p} being organic radicals); in
mod. use, any of a large group of synthetic organosilicon polymers (siloxanes) based on chains or networks of alternating silicon and oxygen atoms, many of these being good electrical insulators with high durability, and finding uses as liquids, greases, rubbers (notably in cosmetic surgery), or resins.
| [1906 Jrnl. Chem. Soc. XC. i. 128 The gelatinous diphenylsilicone (diphenyl silicoketone).] Ibid. 563 The silicones present in the residues..are mixtures, in variable proportions, of silicoformic anhydride and silico-oxalic acid. 1912 Ibid. CI. ii. 2106 The term silicone has already been used to denote the analogues of the ketones, and may be advantageously retained for this purpose. 1948 Q. Rev. Chem. Soc. II. 26 The word ‘silicone’ was originally used by Kipping to denote the silicon analogues of ketones (RR{p}Si:O, cf. RR{p}C:O) but he soon recognised that monomeric silicones are incapable of existence; in fact, no compound containing the group Si:O is yet known. 1957 Listener 31 Oct. 719/2 The manufacturers use silicones partly because they give some resistance to spilled liquids and because dust does not readily adhere to the film of polish. 1979 [see shoot v. 23 h]. |
b. attrib., as
silicone polish,
silicone resin,
silicone rubber, etc.
| 1944 Chem. & Engin. News 10 July 1134/3 Silicone resins, used as insulating varnishes and bonds, definitely fill the void between organic and inorganic insulating materials. Ibid. 25 Nov. 2016/1 Silicone rubber..has been developed by the General Electric Co., Schenectady, and was demonstrated at the Engineers' Club in New York on November 14. 1955 Radio Times 22 Apr. 52/1 (Advt.), New Goddard's Silicone Wax has revolutionized polishing. It's put wonder-working silicones into hard wax. 1958 Times Rev. Industry May 26/3 The core is clamped with steel clamps, and while still under pressure is bound with silicone varnish. 1960 Farmer & Stockbreeder 22 Mar. (Suppl.) 10/2 First, put the pointing in good repair, then treat the wall with a silicone waterproofing liquid. 1969 T. C. Thorstensen Pract. Leather Technol. xiv. 235 As a result of silicone treatment, shoes can be made that are for all practical purposes completely water-repellent. 1971 A. Diment Think Inc. vii. 129 Her breasts were..very firm... Maybe a few silicone injections I thought cynically. 1973 Materials & Technol. VI. viii. 602 Silicone resins, being thermally stable, are used as impregnating varnishes, moulding compounds, encapsulants, and in laminates. 1974 Sci. Amer. Mar. 71/1 Artificial heart valves and experimental heart-bypass pumps are often fabricated from silicone rubber because the polymer has a lower tendency than most organic polymers to trigger the clotting of blood. 1976 Gramophone Nov. 755/3, I recommend the use..of silicone polish, applied thinly and evenly with a soft cloth, starting from the label to take up the surplus, and working outwards. |
c. Comb., as
silicone-impregnated,
silicone-proofed,
silicone-treated adjs.;
silicone-treat vb. trans.| 1956 Nature 25 Feb. 365/2 Reversed-phase chromatography using silicone-impregnated kieselguhr columns. 1976 Shooting Times & Country Mag. 9–15 Dec. 7/1 (Advt.), The GARCIA gun and reel silicone impregnated cloth. Protects and cleans all metal. |
| 1956 Good Housek. Home Encycl. (ed. 4) 251/2 Silicone-proofed rainwear and ski-clothes. 1958 Times 20 Jan. 11/5 Where traditional upholstery material is used on chairs..they should be silicone-treated. |
| 1946 Canad. Med. Assoc. Jrnl. LV. 29/1 The difference between clotting times in untreated..and silicone-treated..tubes is equally marked with plasma. 1956 Good Housek. Home Encycl. (ed. 4) 99/2 Silicone-treated furnishing fabrics. |
Hence
ˈsiliconed ppl. a., coated, impregnated, or otherwise treated with a silicone or silicone-based material;
ˈsiliconing vbl. n. Also (as a back-formation)
ˈsilicone v. trans.| 1950 Jrnl. Appl. Physiol. III. 366 Venous blood was collected in a 10-ml. siliconed syringe. Ibid. 375 Siliconing of the syringe appears a worth-while precaution. 1959 Listener 1 Jan. 43/1 Siliconing really does prevent the food from sticking [to the frying pan]. 1973 ‘E. McBain’ Let's hear it for Deaf Man viii. 124 A woman..with bleached blond hair and siliconed breasts. 1977 Listener 10 Nov. 611/2 The motel on the dunes, its beams shiny and siliconed in the clear light. 1978 Morecambe Guardian 14 Mar. 29/1 (Advt.), Sandblasting and siliconing. 1980 ‘D. Kavanagh’ Duffy iv. 68 She was naked, thinnish, with..breasts which had probably been siliconed. |