silicone /sil″ikōn/ [L, silex, flint] , any of a large group of inert polymers. Silicones are water-repellent and stable at high temperature. They are useful in medicine as adhesives, lubricants, and sealants. They are used in glass chromatography and in coating of glassware for blood collection because they help reduce platelet loss. They are also used as a substitute for rubber, especially in prosthetic devices. Elastomeric silicone, or silicon rubber, is biologically inert. See also silicone-gel breast implant.
