With the continuous expansion of silicone products, they are everywhere in life. Then the question arises: Do silicone products contain the dangerous "BPA"?
First, let's understand what "BPA" is? BPA, also known as bisphenol A, is used in industry to synthesize materials such as polycarbonate (PC) and epoxy resin. Since the 1960s, it has been used to manufacture plastic (milk) bottles, sippy cups for children, and the inner coating of food and beverage (milk powder) cans. However, BPA can also cause endocrine disorders, threatening the health of fetuses and children. Obesity caused by cancer and metabolic disorders is also believed to be related to this. The European Union believes that baby bottles containing bisphenol A can cause precocious puberty. As of March 2, 2011, the production of baby bottles containing the chemical bisphenol A(BPA) has been banned.
Next, let's take a look at the basic structural units of "silicone" organic silicone products, which are composed of silicon-oxygen chain units, and the side chains are connected to various organic groups through silicon atoms. Therefore, in the structure of silicone products, there are both "organic groups" and "inorganic structures".
This special composition and molecular structure enable it to combine the characteristics of organic substances with the functions of inorganic substances. Inorganic silica gel is an amorphous substance with the chemical formula mSiO2· nH2O. It is insoluble in water and any solvent, non-toxic and odorless, and chemically stable. It does not react with any substance except strong alkali and hydrofluoric acid. Silicone rubber, due to its properties in combination with organic materials, possesses basic characteristics such as low surface tension, small viscosity-temperature coefficient, high compressibility, and high gas permeability. It also features excellent properties including resistance to high and low temperatures, electrical insulation, oxidation stability, weather resistance, flame retardancy, water repellency, corrosion resistance, non-toxicity, odorlessness, and physiological inertness. Silicone is non-irritating, non-toxic to human tissues, causes no allergic reactions, and has very few rejection reactions in the body. It has excellent physical and chemical properties.
During contact with body fluids and tissues, it can maintain its original elasticity and softness without being degraded. It is a rather stable inert substance. It can withstand high temperatures and be disinfected. It is convenient to process and form, easy to process and engrave shapes, and easy to use. From this, it can be seen that silica gel does not contain "bisphenol A".