Silicone lubricants, fluids & greases

SILICONE GREASE - PRODUCT NOTES

These are the standard notes that we issue with our silicone products.  For a copy of the MSDS please email us. 

The product comprises POLY-DIMETHYL-SILOXANE fluid thickened with inert silicaceous clay.  

The fluid is SILICONE - a polymer of the elements SILICON and OXYGEN, with organic(dimethyl) polymer side branches. Therefore silicones are mixed inorganic/organic polymers.  

The general properties of SILICONES are: 

High electrical resistance  

Good thermal stability  

Good heat transmission  

Water repulsion  

Resistance to oxygen, ozone and UV light, though not for use in high oxygen pressure/content gas environments  

High lubricity  

Low toxicity (does not support bacterial growth)  

High gas permeability (good for some medical applications, but making it a poor gas seal)  

Poor miscibility (therefore of limited use with additives)  

Compressibility is high.

Applications  

Silicone grease lubricates rubbers and plastics and other materials and combinations of these with metals.  

It protects parts including brake steering and  combinations of these with metals.  

It protects and lubricates auto parts including brakes steering and gear change components.    

It will seal and protect rubber ‘O’ rings e.g. in assembly of PVC pipes.    

Also for use as a release agent for epoxy and polyester castings and as a conditioning agent for mould surfaces. 

Temperature range:  -20degC to +200degC  

UK Water Fitting bye laws approved:  Water Regs Approval Scheme (WRAS) no 2201513  

Approval  Holder  

E Martin & Co. 

Silicones  product names: PlumbSil Silicone Grease & PlumbSil HT Silicone Grease

FOOD SAFETY  

US Food & Drug Administration approved ingredients for incidental contact with food where ‘incidental contact’ is defined as the smallest needed to accomplish the desired technical effect on the equipment. 

Examples of such uses include protective antirust film, release agent on gaskets or seals of tank closures, and as a lubricant for machine parts and equipment in locations where the lubricated part is potentially exposed to food.  

CAS no:   63148‐62‐9  (silicone fluid)  

CAS no:  112945‐52‐5  (fumed silica thickener)  

UN Tariff Code:   3910000015  

Non-hazardous for transport  

The thickener (SILICONE DIOXIDE as fumed silica) E.551 is authorised as a food additive in  the European Union (EU) in accordance with Annex II and Annex III to Regulation (EC) No  1333/2008 on food additives, and specific purity criteria are defined in the Commission regulation (EU) No 231/2012.  

Under US FDA  CFR- Code of Federal Regulations  Title 21, Volume 3  (Last update 29 Mar 2022)  (CITE: 21CFR172.480)  

SO2 (the thickener) is classified as a permitted additive to food for human consumption.  

PolyDimethylSiloxane (the lubricant fluid) is classified as a permitted lubricant for incidental  food contact.  

Under US FDA  CFR – Code of Federal Regulations  

Title 21,  Volume3  (Last update 25 May 2022)  (CITE:  21CFR178.3570)  

Incidental food contact  

https://www.cfsanappsexternal.fda.gov/scripts/fdcc/?set=IndirectAdditives&sort=Sortterm_ID&order=ASC&startrow=1&type=basic&search=silicone 

is the relevant webpage from the list of US Food & Drug Administration approved ingredients for incidental contact with food, where ‘incidental contact’ is defined as the smallest needed to  accomplish the desired technical effect on the equipment.  

Examples of such uses include protective antirust film, release agent on gasket or seals of tank closures, and as a lubricant for machine parts and equipment in locations where the lubricated part is potentially exposed to food.  

last revised 31 May 2024