The main raw material for silicone is silicon, which is obtained industrially from silica-rich materials such as quartz. Silicon is reacted with organic chlorides to make chlorosilanes, which are then hydrolyzed and condensed into siloxanes. These siloxanes become the building blocks for silicone oils, rubber, resins, sealants and other silicone products.

Silica alone is not silicone. Commercial silicone production also depends on carbon-based methyl sources, water, catalysts, fillers, crosslinkers and application-specific additives.

Silicone, Silicon and Silica Are Different Materials

These three words are similar but describe different substances.

Silica

Silica is silicon dioxide, written chemically as SiO₂. It occurs naturally in quartz and sand and is also produced in high-purity industrial forms.

Silicon

Silicon is an elemental material produced by reducing silica at high temperature. It is used in silicone chemistry, metallurgy, solar cells and semiconductors.

Silicone

Silicone is a family of synthetic polymers with an alternating silicon–oxygen backbone. Organic groups attached to the silicon atoms change the flexibility, reactivity, compatibility and final application of the polymer.

The raw material for silicone therefore begins with silica, but several chemical conversion stages are required before silicone polymer is produced.

From Quartz to Silicon Metal

Industrial silicon production begins with silica-rich quartz and a carbon source. These materials are heated in an electric furnace at very high temperature.

The carbon removes oxygen from silicon dioxide, leaving silicon metal. The resulting silicon is then refined and prepared for organosilicon production.

Purity matters because metallic impurities can affect chlorosilane synthesis and the quality of downstream silicone materials.

How Is Silicon Converted Into Chlorosilanes?

Silicon metal is commonly reacted with methyl chloride in the presence of a copper-based catalyst. This is known as the direct process or Müller–Rochow process.

The reaction produces a mixture of methylchlorosilanes. Dimethyldichlorosilane is a particularly important intermediate because it is used to produce many dimethyl silicone polymers.

Other chlorosilanes are separated and used for different structures, including:

• Chain-stopping units

• Branched silicone structures

• Crosslinked Silicone Resins

• Reactive silanes

• Specialty functional silicones

Distillation is required because the direct process creates more than one chlorosilane.

How Do Chlorosilanes Become Siloxanes?

Dimethyldichlorosilane reacts with water during hydrolysis. The chlorine groups are replaced, and silanol-containing intermediates are formed. Hydrogen chloride is also generated and must be handled through a controlled industrial system.

The silanol intermediates condense to create silicon–oxygen–silicon bonds. This produces cyclic and short-chain linear siloxanes.

These intermediates can then be polymerized or rearranged into:

• Dimethyl Silicone Oil

• Silicone rubber base polymers

• Silicone resins

• Reactive Silicone Fluids

• Silicone elastomer systems

This explains why the answer to what raw materials are used to make silicone extends beyond quartz. Industrial silicone chemistry also relies on methyl chloride, water, catalysts and carefully separated silane intermediates.

What Other Materials Are Added?

The additional raw materials depend on the finished product.

Silicone Oil

Silicone oil mainly uses linear siloxane polymers. End blockers, catalysts and functional modifiers may be used to control viscosity and chemical behavior.

Silicone Rubber

Silicone rubber may contain reinforcing silica, crosslinkers, catalysts, pigments and processing aids. The exact system depends on whether the rubber is heat-cured, condensation-cured or addition-cured.

Silicone Sealant

A silicone sealant normally contains silicone polymer, reinforcing filler, crosslinker, catalyst, adhesion promoter and other formulation additives.

Silicone Resin

Silicone resins use more highly branched siloxane structures. Their composition is designed to produce harder films with heat, weathering, electrical or water-resistance properties.

Modified Silicone Fluids

Amino, epoxy, polyether, phenyl or hydrogen groups may be introduced to give the silicone fluid different compatibility and reactivity.

Click to browse our amino-modified silicone fluid for an example of how functional modification changes silicone behavior in textile, leather and resin applications.

Why Raw-Material Purity Matters

Impurities can affect silicone color, odor, cure response, electrical properties and long-term stability.

For industrial users, the important controls may include:

1. Polymer viscosity

2. Volatile content

3. Moisture

4. Functional-group level

5. Catalyst residue

6. Appearance and color

7. Batch-to-batch consistency

8. Packaging and storage stability

The required specification should match the final application. A silicone for general industrial lubrication may not have the same purity or documentation requirements as a material used in cosmetics, food processing or electronics.

Our Silicone Supply Capabilities

We have supplied and produced silicone products for more than 20 years. Our portfolio covers silicone oils, modified fluids, rubber, sealants, resins, greases, Antifoams and related specialty products.

We work with products from Shin-Etsu, Elkem, Dow and Momentive while our manufacturing group develops and produces textile and industrial silicone materials.

Our annual production capacity exceeds 5,000 tonnes, supporting bulk supply of industrial silicone raw materials for formulators, factories and distribution partners.

Click to visit our About Us page and see our production background, factory environment and silicone industry experience.

Match the Material to the Application

The correct raw material for silicone depends on the product being manufactured. Silicone oil, rubber, resin and sealant use related siloxane chemistry, but their polymer structures and additives are different.

Our bulk supply of industrial silicone raw materials is supported by application discussions covering viscosity, compatibility, cure method, packaging and order volume.

Discuss Your Silicone Raw-Material List

Send us your product type, application, technical requirements, preferred brand or equivalent grade and forecast purchasing quantity. We can help organize suitable silicone materials and prepare a bulk-supply quotation.

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