Glycerol-silicone elastomers – current status and perspectives

Glycerol and silicone pre-polymer are two virtually immiscible liquids. However when sufficiently high shear forces are applied to a mixture of both then the glycerol phase breaks down to micro-size droplets evenly distributed within the silicone pre-polymer phase thus a glycerol-in-silicone emulsion is produced. Upon cross-linking of the silicone pre-polymer free-standing silicones with incorporated glycerol droplets are obtained as shown in Figure 1.1,2 Interestingly, mechanical properties of these composites are not compromised as the glycerol loading increases.
Glycerol-silicone elastomers became a platform for creating multiple functional smart materials, e.g. drug delivery wound care membranes, silicone foams, water absorbing silicones and magnetochromic films. Here some of the most interesting examples of glycerol-silicone elastomers applications will be presented and briefly explained elucidating the great potential of this counterintuitive composition.