Silicones

Synopsis

Silicones can be tailored at the molecular level for a diversity of applications, including moulded silicone-based materials, adhesives, sealants, coatings and lubricants that are used in motor cars, in medicine and for glazing. The first step in the production of silicones is the processing of quartz (silicon dioxide) to produce silicon, the stages of which are shown at a plant in the French Alps. At Dow Corning plant in Wales, silicon power is reacted with chloromethane to produce dimethyldichlorosilane, which is then hydrolysed to produce polysiloxanes. Polysiloxane chains can then be converted into useful silicone material by cross-linking the chains in different ways and by introducing various functional groups into the siloxane backbone. Shows silicone products used in a racing car; silicone-based materials, particularly tubing, used with radio isotopes in the diagnosis of kidney malfunction; and silicone balloons for stretching skin in plastic surgery.

Series

S343 Videocassette 2

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Video; Videocassette. Standard formats. col. 30 min.

Year of production

1989

Availability

Sale; 1997 sale: £95.00 (+VAT +p&p)

Subjects

Chemistry

Keywords

adhesives; inorganic chemistry; plastic surgery; quartz; radioisotopes; silicones

Credits

Producer

Andrew Crilly; Jack Koumi

Cast

Barry Paine

Production Company

Name

BBC Open University Productions

Name

Dow Corning Europe

Distributor

Name

Open University Worldwide

Web

http://www.ouw.co.uk External site opens in new window

Phone

+44 (0) 1908 274066

Address

Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA

Notes

NB. As of May 2016 Open University Worldwide are no longer distributing DVDs. They have posted this message on their website: ‘Unfortunately Open University Worldwide Limited has decided that product sales are no longer viable given the reduced funding to Higher Education institutions and diminishing demand for the products we have traditionally stocked. At present the Open University Students Association (OUSA) will continue to sell the "Good Study Guide", and we are in discussion with other possible distributors to continue to make The Open University’s products available for purchase. As soon as we have any information on other channels of distribution we will update this notice’. Some products are still available via second hand dealers on Amazon.co.uk