Thixotropy of silicone, also known as thixotropy, refers to the property that the consistency or viscosity of silicone changes when it is subjected to external forces (such as shear force). Specifically:
1. Definition of thixotropy
Thixotropy refers to the property that the consistency of an object decreases when it is sheared, and the consistency increases when the shearing stops. For silicone, this means that in a static state, silicone may show a higher viscosity; when it is subjected to external forces (such as stirring, brushing or injection, etc.), its viscosity will decrease and its fluidity will increase. When the external force disappears, the silicone will gradually return to its original viscosity state.
2. Thixotropy performance
Rheology under pressure: Thixotropic silicone will undergo rheology under a certain pressure, that is, it will change from a solid or high viscosity state to a low viscosity, easy-to-flow liquid state. This change makes silicone easier to brush, drip or fill during construction.
Recovery after pressure disappears: When the external force (such as pressure) disappears, the thixotropic silicone will quickly return to its original high viscosity state, thereby maintaining its shape and stability.
3. Thixotropy Advantages
Construction performance: Thixotropy makes silicone easier to control during construction and can adapt to different construction angles and directions. At the same time, since silicone has a higher viscosity when it is stationary, it can effectively prevent the occurrence of flowing and dripping.
Filling performance: Thixotropic silicone can fill and seal in smaller gaps to ensure the sealing effect.
Curing performance: Thixotropic silicone usually has a faster curing speed and can form a solid state in a short time, thereby improving construction efficiency.
4. Application fields
Due to the many advantages brought by thixotropy, thixotropic silicone has been widely used in many fields:
Construction field: Thixotropic silicone can be used for filling, sealing and bonding of scenes such as steel structures, doors and windows, and glass curtain walls.
Automobile field: Thixotropic silicone is used in the manufacture of various seals, O-rings, and spark plug protective covers in automobile manufacturing.
Electronic and electrical fields: Thixotropic silicone is widely used in waterproof sealing and structural components of consumer electronic products due to its excellent waterproof performance, elasticity, anti-aging and non-toxic and harmless characteristics.
In summary, the thixotropy of silicone is an important physical property, which makes silicone easier to control during construction, has better filling effect, and has a faster curing speed. These advantages make thixotropic silicone widely used in many fields.