"I don't know what silicone is! Why is it used in so many things in life? Like baby's toys, feeders or teethers, and kitchen supplies, etc.? Is it safe?"
One way to ensure product safety is to really understand what silicone is and where it is used. In this article, you can expect the following topics −
What is Food Grade Silicone?
What is BPA (Bisphenol A)?
How is silicone better than plastic?
Why is silicone used in baby products and household products? is it safe
What is Food Grade Silicone?
Silica gel for food is an inorganic polymer colloid material formed by polycondensation of silicic acid. The main component is SiO2 nH2O, with a content of more than 98%. It is non-toxic and tasteless, and has stable chemical properties. , does not react with any acid-base salt. Because it is a colloidal structure, it has many micropores and a large specific surface area. The pore size of edible silica gel is about 8-10nm, the specific surface area is 300-500m2/g, and the surface is hydrophilic, which has a strong ability to absorb water. Under high humidity, its water absorption can reach more than 80%-100% of its own weight. . Therefore, food-grade silica gel can be used as an external desiccant for food and medicine. Since the edible silica gel is refined and sterilized, it can be mixed with food and medicine according to the required amount to directly ensure that the food is dry and eaten together with the food, without any toxic and side effects on the human body. Food-grade silica gel is a kind of environmentally friendly silica gel, non-toxic, odorless, and degradable; 2. Soft, good elasticity, kink resistance and no deformation; 3. No cracking, long service life, cold and high temperature resistance; 4. Higher tear strength and superior electrical properties; 5. No yellowing, no frost, no whitening, no fading, no scale and no peculiar smell in the water for a long time;
What is BPA (Bisphenol A)
Bisphenol A (bisphenolA) is one of the most widely used industrial compounds in the world, with a chemical formula of C15H16O2, white flaky crystals with a phenolic smell. The melting point is 155~156°C. The boiling point is 250~252°C (1.73kPa). Insoluble in water, soluble in ethanol, acetone and lye. It has low volatility and moderate toxicity, and is easy to biodegrade with a half-life of 2.5-5 days. Mainly used in the production of polycarbonate, epoxy resin, polysulfone resin, polyphenylene ether resin, unsaturated polyester resin and other polymer materials. It can also be used in the production of plasticizers, flame retardants, antioxidants, heat stabilizers, rubber antioxidants, pesticides, coatings and other fine chemical products. In the manufacturing process of plastic products, adding bisphenol A can make it colorless, transparent, durable, lightweight and impact-resistant, especially to prevent acidic vegetables and fruits from corroding metal containers from the inside, so it is widely used in canned food and drink packaging, baby bottles, water bottles, sealants for dental fillings, eyeglass lenses, and hundreds of other everyday products. Bisphenols such as bisphenol A are mainly used in the lining of hardened plastic containers and metal cans. Common items containing such additives include plastic baby bottles, plastic water cups, takeaway lunch boxes, inner wall coatings of canned foods, and bottled water containers. . Bisphenol A has potential reproductive toxicity and is similar to estrogen in the human body. It will interfere with the normal sexual development of children, easily lead to precocious puberty, and affect the nervous system and immune system. At present, China and EU countries have banned the use of bisphenol A in baby bottles, sippy cups, and mineral water bottles. Keep in mind that some (but not all) plastic items marked with recycling code 3 or 7 may contain BPA.
How is silicone better than plastic?
Let's compare silicone to plastic for better understanding. Food-grade silicone is an organic polymer material, which belongs to the category of silicone. The main component is silicon dioxide. It has stable chemical properties and does not burn. The silicone mold made is not deformed and has a long service life. Plastic is a kind of polymer compound, which is polymerized by addition polymerization or polycondensation reaction with monomer as raw material. The finished product made of plastic has a certain smell. Unlike food-grade silicone, it does not contain BPA. It is naturally non-toxic and harmless, safe and environmentally friendly. Compared with plastic materials, silicone products are more widely used.
Why is silicone used in baby products and household products? is it safe?
Food grade silicone is non-toxic and odorless. That means it's free of BPA, latex, lead, and other harmful by-products. Therefore, it is completely safe for babies to use, and it will not produce harmful substances when it is used as a kitchen utensil. It has strong high temperature resistance, non-toxic, odorless, high transparency, soft and elastic. And it does not change yellow over time; no deformation, no cracking, long service life, cold and high temperature resistance, and has higher tear strength and superior electrical properties, etc. So it can be safely used in baby feeders, baby teethers, baby toys, equipment such as microwave ovens, freezers, ovens and dishwashers, and can also safely store food. FDA-approved food-grade silicone is a non-toxic type of silicone, and it needs to pass through several rigorous stages to gain FDA approval. So silicone products are very safe. With the rich and colorful life, people are also very concerned about environmental safety issues. Silicone products are green and environmentally friendly products, and you don't have to worry about it polluting the environment.
So after reading this article, do you know how to choose?
The above is all the content of this article, I hope it can help you.
