Advances in Silicones and Silicone-Modified Materials

Silicon, silica and silicones are all related and each of them have important but separate technological roles to play for mankind in this millennium. All three have the element silicon (Si) in common but they have unique and distinctive chemistries, properties and applications. This overview describes some of the themes that continue to attract the attention of those of us with an interest in advanced materials which are based on the siloxane bond (Si-O). Materials based on the siloxane bond have been the main theme of the various ACS ‘Silicones and Silicone-Modified Materials Symposia’ and the resulting books that have been our pleasure to assemble from them. The siloxane bond is therefore the common factor that threads through this overview.