Against the backdrop of the global advocacy for sustainable development, the silicone rubber industry is actively exploring ways to reduce environmental impacts and achieve efficient resource utilization. The traditional production process of silicone rubber involves complex chemical synthesis and processing, consuming a large amount of energy and raw materials. Moreover, the disposal of waste silicone rubber products has become an environmental burden. Nowadays, the industry focuses on recycling, the construction of circular economy models, and the research and development of green manufacturing processes, striving to open up new directions for the sustainable development of silicone rubber.

Recycling waste silicone rubber is the primary step. Due to the stable chemical structure of silicone rubber, conventional recycling methods are difficult to implement. However, in recent years, researchers have developed innovative recycling technologies such as thermal depolymerization and chemical degradation. Thermal depolymerization decomposes waste silicone rubber into reusable small - molecule monomers or oligomers under specific temperature and pressure conditions, and these products can be reused for the synthesis of new silicone rubber. Chemical degradation, on the other hand, uses specific chemical reagents to selectively break the molecular chains of silicone rubber, realizing the recycling and transformation of the material. By establishing a complete waste silicone rubber recycling system, materials can be efficiently recycled from industrial waste and post - consumer products, which not only reduces the exploitation of raw materials but also alleviates the environmental pressure caused by waste landfilling and incineration.
Building a circular economy model is crucial for the silicone rubber industry. Enterprises and research institutions collaborate to integrate the circular concept into the design stage of silicone rubber products. For example, designing the structure of silicone rubber products to be easily disassembled, which facilitates the separation of different materials during recycling; selecting compatible additives and filler materials to ensure that the material properties are not overly affected during the recycling process. At the same time, the upstream and downstream of the industry strengthen cooperation to form a closed - loop industrial chain from raw material supply, product manufacturing, recycling and treatment to reuse. Manufacturers recycle old products and convert them into raw materials for supply to other enterprises, realizing the circular flow of resources within the industry, improving resource utilization efficiency, and reducing dependence on new resources.
Green manufacturing processes are also the key to the sustainable development of silicone rubber. The traditional synthesis of silicone rubber often uses organic solvents and heavy - metal catalysts, which are highly harmful to the environment. Now, the concept of green chemistry has led to the emergence of new synthesis processes. The water - based synthesis method uses water as the reaction medium, reducing the use of organic solvents and the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In addition, the development of efficient and non - toxic catalysts can promote the synthesis of silicone rubber under mild reaction conditions, reducing energy consumption and pollutant generation. In the processing stage, the adoption of advanced molding technologies such as 3D printing can accurately control the amount of materials used, reduce production waste, and enhance the green level of the silicone rubber production process.


Flexible Coating Liquid Silicone Rubber