Against the backdrop of the global advocacy for sustainable development, the silicone rubber material industry is also faced with the urgent need to transform towards a green and circular direction. Exploring the sustainable development paths of silicone rubber materials not only helps to reduce resource waste and environmental pollution but also injects new impetus into the long-term development of the industry. Recycling and green synthesis are two key aspects of achieving the sustainable development of silicone rubber materials.

The recycling of silicone rubber materials mainly focuses on the recycling and treatment of waste silicone rubber products. After the end of their service life, most traditional silicone rubber products are discarded or incinerated, which not only wastes valuable resources but also causes pollution to the environment. Currently, pyrolysis technology has become a research hotspot for the recycling of waste silicone rubber. Under specific high-temperature and high-pressure conditions, pyrolysis can decompose waste silicone rubber into small molecular monomers or oligomers. These decomposition products can be used as raw materials to synthesize new silicone rubber materials, achieving the recycling of resources. However, the pyrolysis process has high requirements for equipment and large energy consumption, and cost control has become the main obstacle to the large-scale application of this technology. To solve this problem, researchers are committed to optimizing the pyrolysis process parameters and developing efficient catalysts to reduce the reaction temperature and pressure and decrease energy consumption. At the same time, pre-treatment methods that are compatible with the pyrolysis technology are explored to improve the recycling efficiency of waste silicone rubber and the purity of the products.
In addition to pyrolysis, chemical degradation is also an important way for the recycling of waste silicone rubber. By using specific chemical reagents, the molecular chains of silicone rubber are cut, converting it into recyclable raw materials. However, this method requires the search for efficient, environmentally friendly, and economical chemical reagents, and at the same time, it is necessary to solve the problems of separation and purification of the degradation products. Currently, some new biodegradable reagents are being studied, which have the advantages of being environmentally friendly and having mild reaction conditions. If successfully applied, it will open up a new path for the recycling of silicone rubber. In addition, physical recycling methods such as crushing and regenerative granulation are also being continuously improved. By crushing waste silicone rubber and mixing it with new silicone rubber raw materials in a certain proportion, recycled silicone rubber products whose performance meets the needs of some applications can be prepared, reducing the dependence on new raw materials.
In terms of green synthesis, traditional silicone rubber synthesis processes have many environmental problems. For example, the use of a large amount of organic solvents will generate volatile organic compound (VOCs) emissions during the production process, causing pollution to the atmospheric environment. To change this situation, the concept of green chemistry has been introduced into the field of silicone rubber synthesis. As an emerging green technology, the water-based synthesis process uses water as the reaction medium instead of organic solvents, significantly reducing the emissions of VOCs. However, the water-based synthesis process still needs to be further optimized in terms of reaction rate, product purity, etc., to reach a level comparable to that of traditional processes. At the same time, the development of new non-toxic and efficient catalysts is also the key to green synthesis. Some catalysts based on biological enzymes or nanomaterials are being developed. These catalysts are expected to reduce the harm to the environment while improving the reaction efficiency and promote the silicone rubber synthesis process to develop in a green and sustainable direction.


High Flame Retardancy Silicone Rubber for Molding & Extrusion