By: ICN Bureau
Last updated : November 13, 2025 3:58 pm
This innovation is part of the company’s silicon chemistry-driven initiative
Shin-Etsu Chemical has announced the development of a new thermoplastic silicone that achieves recyclability—an advancement long considered difficult with conventional silicone rubber. This innovation is part of the company’s silicon chemistry-driven initiative, Shin-Etsu Silicones Solution-Engineering.
Plastic and rubber materials are generally categorized into thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics. Thermoplastics soften when heated and harden when cooled, making them suitable for recycling. In contrast, thermosetting plastics—including conventional silicone rubber—undergo irreversible crosslinking when heated, which makes recycling nearly impossible.
Through advanced polymer modification technology accumulated over many years, Shin-Etsu Chemical has successfully developed a thermoplastic silicone that overcomes these limitations. The new material combines recyclability with exceptional mechanical and aesthetic properties. It offers high hardness (Shore A 80 or higher) alongside superior elasticity (elongation at break exceeding 800 per cent), as well as excellent transparency and colorability due to the absence of inorganic fillers such as silica.
The thermoplastic silicone also provides outstanding processability, enabling injection molding comparable to conventional plastics, and can be formulated into solvent-based coatings. Despite its enhanced durability and versatility, the material retains the soft, pleasant texture characteristic of silicone.
Shin-Etsu Chemical’s new thermoplastic silicone can be tailored to meet a wide range of customer requirements—from rubber-like elastic materials to plastic-like rigid forms. Owing to these unique properties, it opens new application possibilities that were previously unattainable with traditional silicone rubber. Potential uses include skin-contact components in mobile devices and sports equipment, as well as coatings for medical and nursing care devices.