Silicone Emulsions – A Splitting Headache

Although it was mentioned in our most recent Silicones blog (06/03/14). We here at J Allcock & Sons thought it would be a good idea to add a post about the problem of Silicone emulsions splitting.

Silicone Emulsions are basically Silicone oil, water and an emulsifier. The Silicone oil does the job (usually lubrication), the water carries the oil and allows for easy dilution of the oil and the emulsifier binds the two together.

However, problems can arise in emulsions, the large array of splitting possiblilties are shown perfectly in the diagram below:

Taken from: http://www.particlesciences.com/news/technical-briefs/2011/emulsion-stability-and-testing.html

Though there are many technical terms, the origin of all these kinds of splitting are the same. Like milk, Silicone emulsions can ‘go off’ if left in a hot, moist environment. Like milk, Bacteria and fungi can grow that feed on the emulsifier and cause the separation of an emulsion, leading to a ‘lumpy’ consistency.

There are a few precautionary measures that can be taken to ensure your Silicone Emulsion doesn’t split;

• Store the container in a cool, dry area
• Do not store diluted material for long periods of time
• Regularly wash out dilution vessels to stop bacteria/fungi carrying over into fresh batches
• Use Allcosil Stabiliser to increase the lifespan of your Silicone Emulsion

We hope this helps answer any questions on silicone splitting you may have. If you’d like more info please get in contact via the website or by calling myself on 0161 223 7181.

Matt Darlington