What material is silica gel?
From composition to application, understand the nature and value of silica gel in one article
What kind of material is silica gel? This is a question that many people have when coming into contact with daily items such as baking molds, medical catheters, and mobile phone protective accessories. The scientific name of this material is “silicate” or “silicon dioxide”. It has silicon dioxide (SiO₂) as its core component and is made from silica through chemical treatment or artificial synthesis. With unique physical and chemical properties such as high temperature resistance, high elasticity, and corrosion resistance, it has become a widely used core material in modern material science.
Silica gel is mainly divided into two categories. One is the desiccant type, which has a rich microporous structure and focuses on moisture absorption and moisture proofing. It is commonly found in various product packages and can effectively keep products dry. The other is the medical-grade type, which has undergone special processing, with higher safety and biocompatibility, suitable for scenarios with extremely high safety requirements such as medical devices and prosthetics. It has multiple advantages such as stability at 200°C without releasing harmful substances, softness and ease of molding, UV resistance, acid and alkali resistance, and recyclability and environmental friendliness. Therefore, it covers multiple fields such as home furnishing (baking molds, kitchen utensils), electronics (mobile phone protective accessories, headphone casings), automobiles (sealing rings, connectors), and toys (children’s safety toys), and is the preferred material in various industries.
When using such silica gel products daily, they should be cleaned with warm water and neutral detergent to avoid strong chemical cleaners damaging the material structure. After cleaning, they should be stored in a dry and ventilated place, avoiding long-term exposure to sunlight or use in extreme temperatures to maintain stable performance. In the future, with the improvement of environmental awareness and technological progress, biodegradable and intelligent products will promote the continuous upgrading of this material, and its application boundaries will be further expanded.
From kitchen baking tools to hospital surgical instruments, from protective accessories for electronic products to core components of automobiles, this type of material, relying on its comprehensive performance, has become an indispensable part of modern life. As a core representative of it, silica gel will have an increasingly broad application prospect with the development of science and technology.