Skip to main content

Medical-grade soft silicone elastomers for prostheses

Medical-grade silicone RTVs are widely used for prosthesis liners, which, being in direct contact with the skin, must achieve the balance of durability, comfort and inertness.

Silicone in Prosthetics: Enhancing Quality of Life for Amputees

Prosthetics manufacturers use silicone for their unique properties to manufacture various parts of the prostheses, aiming at improving the quality of life of amputees. Medical grade soft silicone elastomers (RTVs) are used most widely in prosthetics because they are chemically inert, do not absorb sweat and are more durable than other soft materials. 

Product Name

Functions/Benefits

Physical Characteristics

PURASIL™
NAME

INCI Name

Spreadability

Softness

Reduce 
Tackiness

SPF 
Enhancer

Moisturizing
Feel

Wrinkle
Masking

Mattifying

Cushiony

Viscosity @
25°C (Pa.s)

Crosspolymer
(%)

Dimethicone Grade
BSG-200 Dimethicone (and)
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer		 + +++ + +++ +++ + ++ +++ 100 - 400 20 - 30
BSG-200S Dimethicone (and)
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer		 + +++ + +++ +++ + ++ +++ 60 - 120 20 - 30
BSG-5041 Dimethicone (and)
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer		 + +++ + +++ ++ + + +++ 300 - 500 20 - 30
D-308 Dimethicone (and)
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer		 +++ +++ + ++ +++ + + +++ 50 - 100 5 - 10
BSG-650DF Dimethicone (and)
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer (and)
Phenyl Trimethicone (and) Stearyl Dimethicone		 ++ +++ + +++ ++ + + ++ 10 - 60 5 - 10

D5 Grade
BSG-250 Cyclopentasiloxane (and)
Dimethicone (and)
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer		 ++ +++ + +++ +++ ++ ++ +++ 100 - 400 15 - 25
BSG-350 Cyclopentasiloxane (and)
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer		 + +++ + +++ +++ + + +++ 20 - 60 5 - 10
BSG-5040 Cyclopentasiloxane (and)
Dimethicone (and)
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer		 + +++ + +++ +++ + + +++ 350 - 550 10 - 20
BSG-5045 Cyclopentasiloxane (and)
Dimethicone (and)
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer		 + +++ + +++ +++ + + +++ 300 - 500 10 - 20

D6 Grade
CHM 01 Cyclohexasiloxane (and)
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer		 + +++ + +++ +++ + + +++ 200 - 300 20 - 30

Organic Oil Grade
ORG 01 C13-15 Alkane (and)
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer		 +++ +++ + +++ ++ + + +++ 100 - 300 10 - 20

Organic Oil Grade
ORG 01 C13-15 Alkane (and)
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer		 +++ +++ + +++ ++ + + +++ 100 - 300 10 - 20
                       

 

 

 

 

Medical-grade silicone RTVs are particularly used for the manufacturing of prosthetic liners, which is the part of the limb prosthesis in direct contact with the skin. Its role is to maintain a tight fit with the body while redistributing weight in order to reduce pain at pressure points. 

Elkem Silicones’ range of SILBIONE™ RTVs provide the following benefits for the manufacturing of prosthetic liners:

  • Wide range of hardness available
  • Biocompatible according to ISO 10993
  • Excellent mechanical properties for a longer durability
  • Low viscosity for a trouble-free and high productivity manufacturing operation
  • Silicone glue technology available to bond with the external fabric
  • Custom grades available on demand
Medical grade High Consistency Rubber for Healthcare Applications

Medical Grade Silicone Soft Elastomers for Healthcare application

Discover our expanding Silbione™ product line for Medical Grade Soft Elastomers

Download

Beyond liners, medical grade RTVs can also be used to make realistic, life-like artificial limbs such as hands and feet. By using various grades and colors pigments, prosthetists can make tailor-made individual prostheses in a process called cosmetic restoration.  Thanks to the unique viscoelastic properties of silicone elastomers, the end product can have a touch and feel which is very close to human skin.

At Elkem, we have dedicated people located around the globe, committed to your success. Whether you are looking for a product recommendation, for customized silicone solutions, or for regulatory support, we have the people in place when and where you want them.

silbione-general-guide

Experience the Silbione™ difference

Find out more about medical-grade silicones for healthcare & biomedical applications.

More about this topic

Related Application

Contact us

Take your business to the next level by partnering with a world-leading material manufacturer.

Reach out