Plastic? Rubber? Just plain weird? Used for everything from ice-cube trays to adult toys to cake tins it certainly gets around. So what is silicone??
Silicon is a natural chemical element. Silicone polymers are derived from silicon and so silicone is a man-made product derived from silicon a natural element.
Silicon the natural chemical element, is generally found in solid crystalline form like sand.
Silicone, the product, may be a liquid lubricant, a semi-solid adhesive or a rubber-like plastic polymer
Uses
Liquid silicone is often used as a lubricant.
An example of a thicker form of rubberized silicone would waterproof sealant used in bathrooms and window fitting.
Solid silicone rubber – is used for everything from cake baking cases to internal sanitary protection.
Silicone Rubber
Silicone rubber a manmade product derived from natural products – silicon and rubber. It is made by curing or vulcanizing natural rubber. Silicon is injected into the long hydrocarbon chains of natural rubber under high heat and pressure. The result is silicone rubber.
Silicone rubber is a silicon polymer with rubberized qualities.
It was first produced under the chemical name of polydimethlysiloxane.
Silicone rubber is heat resistant so can be used to make cookware including oven mitts, tongs, pot holders and pan handles.
Silicone rubber also possesses non-stick qualities, so it can be formed into flexible cookware such as muffin and cake pans.
Silicone Generally
All silicone is inert, it does not react with other elements or compounds.
There are (as yet) no known health hazards of silicone.
Silicone is not biodegradable, but it can be recycled easily – where facilities exist.
Silicone comes in two grades, food and medical grade silicone.
Do I boycott silicone?
Silicone, is a man-made polymer which does not biodegrade, and so has to specially disposed of. Like other plastics I try to avoid using it. Like other plastics, there are some silicone products I use, because they help me reduce the amount of plastic, throw-away trash I would otherwise create.
silicone products I use or at least think might be useful
silicone products I use or at least think might be useful
Make your own oilskin using white spirit also known and mineral spirits in the U.S and linseed oil.
White Spirit is “also known as mineral turpentine, turpentine substitute, petroleum spirits, solvent naphtha (petroleum), varsol, Stoddard solvent,[4][5] or, generically, “paint thinner“, is a petroleum-derived clear liquid used as a common organic solvent in painting and decorating.”
“Owing to the volatility and low bioavailability of its constituents, white spirit, although it is moderately toxic to aquatic organisms, is unlikely to present significant hazards to the environment. It should not however, be purposely poured down the sink or freshwater drain.”
2.2 Environmental levels and human exposure There are few data on white spirit in air, water or soil. Monitoring at a site contaminated with spilt white spirit (Stoddard solvent) revealed soil levels of up to 3600 mg/kg and deep soil water levels of up to 500 mg/litre. Biodegradation led to a 90% reduction in soil concentration over a 4-month period following remediation.
Next you need to mix some simple chemicals. You will need one quart of mineral spirits (You are not wanting mineral oil. Mineral oil will not work), which is available as paint thinner at Lowes, Home Depot or any paint store. You will also need a quart of boiled linseed oil. It is available at the same place. If you go to Sherin Williams or Porter paints you can get tarp and chemicals at the same stop.
Mix the mineral spirits and linseed oil 50/50. Shake it up good. You need the combination of chemicals. The linseed oil waterproofs the fabric and the mineral spirits allow the oil to dry. If you use straight linseed oil the fabric will never dry and will remain oily and sticky forever. (At this point you can also add pigmint if you want color in the tarp.)
Hang your prepared tarp from a clothesline or the back yard fince and paint it with the solution. Make sure it is saturated well. Leave the tarp hanging untill it dries. With the 50/50 mixture it will take about 48 hours. It will take the smell about a week to disperse.
The following information is for guidance only. None of the following recipes or tips have not been tested on anyone other than me. I strongly advise you do your own research and proceed very carefully.
Disclaimer
Be aware of the risks of listening to someone who a) doesn’t have any training in this field, b) most of what they know comes from Google, That’s me I mean.
If you want a better informed opinion I suggest you head on over to the Aromantics website. They will sell you everything you need to make sun tan lotion including recipes you can download as a PDF. They have been in this game for years and are far more qualified then I am. The following is an account of my own experiences which may help you in your own research.
Fats and oils are used to keep the skin supple and prevent moisture evaporation. Many oils and waxes can be used neat such as coconut oil. Or they can be mixed with water as a cream or lotion. They can be harvested from plants and animals. Read more about fatty acids HERE
The oils used in creams/balms are usually vegetable derived though I suppose you could use lard if you wished (!)
Types Of Oil, Wax Or Butter They come in a variety of forms under the following headings – but it is a rough guide only. Liquid Oil – never solidifies Solid Oil – firm when cool but has very low melting point so sometimes it may be counted as an oil i.e. Coconut oil Butters – a solid oil. Has a high melting point. Rather confusing. Milk butter for example acts more like a solid oil, while Cocoa butter is more like a wax. Waxes – very hard-of a candle (wax), like consistency. Bees wax for example.
Which One?
There are hundreds of vegetable oils. Different skins like different oils and you will have to experiment to find what is best for you. You don’t need that many. I can make everything I need with a few oils.
I have listed them in order of hardness. However some liquid oils can be more oily than solid oils. Castor oil (liquid) is the thickest oil i know and can only be used mixed with others where’s coconut oil (semi solid) is very light
Almond oil – a lighter oil. Can be bought in big supermarkets, Asian shops and online Rapeseed oil – a lighter oil with quite a strong scent but U.K. sourced. Read More Olive oil – a richer oil can sometimes be bought on tap in the U.K. Used for cooking and cosmetics.read more Castor oil – a very thick oil – add it to lip balm. Can often be bought in chemists. Coconut oil– a semi solid light oil which has a very low melting point. Use neat as for everything from hair care to make up removal or add to creams and balms. Can also be used for cooking. Read more Shea butter – a rich creamy butter with a surprisingly low melting point. Good for making cream and lotions. There’s an introduction to shea butter here Cocoa butter – a hard wax which has a high melting point. Use neat as a lip balm or add to creams and balms. Bees wax – a very hard oil wax has a very high melting point add to creams and balms to make them firmer.
Cosmetics & Eating I love a multi tasking product and you cant do better than a moisturiser you cook chips in. Rapeseed oil – a lighter oil with quite a strong scent but U.K. sourced. Read More Olive oil – a richer oil can sometimes be bought on tap in the U.K. Used for cooking and cosmetics.read more Rice Bran Oil less “oily” than olive oil and rapeseed oil and not as malodorous as the latter. I used it to make suntan lotion and mosquito repellent.
CSometimes a wax is just too hard and an oil too liquid. Oils and waxes can be combined to create a more usable product. Examples would be combining a hard wax like cocoa butter with a softer oil like coconut. these are my favourites: Body Butter Lip Balm
Cream & Lotions
But still there are times when oils are are just too… oily. In this case you need to dilute them using water. As Water and oil don’t mix you will also need to add an emulsifier. The end result is cream or lotion. To make cream you will need the following Fatty acids of your choice- oil, butters & waxes. Water Emulsifiers: Water and fat do not naturally mix, you need to use an emulsifier. Preservatives Pots to put your cream in.
The cream or oil can be used as a carrier medium for active ingredients such as… Suntan Lotion– add Microfine Titanium Dioxide OR Zinc Oxide to make a suntan lotion Self Tan– Add DHA to make a fake bake that really works . Magic, age defying, cellulite busting potions- scour the internet for all the gubbins, the AHAs, enzymes and crushed pearls that are supposed to grant instant beauty and add them too. I can’t promise results, but it’s fun experimenting.
Containers
Once you have made your creams and balms you will need to store them. You can find a range of pots, bottles and closures here.
More
For the last 5 years now I have been I have been using home-made cream on face and body with no side effects. The plastic pots from the original kit have been reused a number of times. In fact they are still in use. They are great for traveling.
PLASTIC SPOILER Some of the above will come plastic packaged. As I get huge amounts out of one small bag of ingredients so I consider it a worthwhile compromise. It still represents a huge decrease in plastic consumption.
Making Other Personal Care Products
Its quicker then trying to choose between a hundred different shampoos and it’s really simple, fun to do, so much cheaper and I get to control what goes on my body, where it comes from and what environmental impact it has.
The following information is for guidance only. None of the following recipes or tips have not been tested on anyone other than me. I strongly advise you do your own research and proceed very carefully.
Disclaimer
Be aware of the risks of listening to someone who a) doesn’t have any training in this field, b) most of what they know comes from Google, That’s me I mean.
If you want a better informed opinion I suggest you head on over to the Aromantics website. They will sell you everything you need to make sun tan lotion including recipes you can download as a PDF. They have been in this game for years and are far more qualified then I am. The following is an account of my own experiences which may help you in your own research.
N.B. lines changes, products get removed. For more information why not ask the Plastic Is Rubbish FB group for updates. They are a great source of tidbits, personal experience and the latest news. Why not join them and share the plastic free love x
Basic soap is made from lye, oils or fats (animal or vegetable) and water.
Saponification
When these three are mixed together a chemical process called saponification takes place. The end result is soap
In the olden days soap makers used lye obtained from wood ashes. Find out how, here.
Modern day soap makers use Sodium hydroxide (NaOH), also known as lye and caustic soda. This is made from salt and is very caustic See how that is made here.
History
In the olden days making soap was a labour intensive process. There were plenty of animal fats but making lye took forever. And it wasn’t very reliable. Then in 1791 French chemist Le Blanc discovered how to make Soda Ash from salt. Soap got much easier and cheaper to make and the great unwashed could finally afford a bar in every home.
How does it work
Alkaline & Organic Soils
Soap is alkaline which means it will work well with organic soils ( dirt). Alkaline emulsify grease. Fatty acids are normally insoluble which is why they cannot be cleaned using water alone. The alkaline breaks down fat making them dispersable in water. Read more here
Soap & Germs
But folk were not just cleaner but safer too. Soap does actually kills germs but it does a good job of physically removing them.
Whats in YOUR soap
Here are some of the things you might find in your soap.
Sodium tallowate is from animal fat usually from cows.
Sodium lauryl sulfate (commonly known as SLS) and Sodium laureth sulphate and sodium laurel sulphate also attract dirt so work in the same way as soap but they create more lather. This is the main reason they are added – to create lots of lovely lather. They are a known skin irritant. Internet claims that they cause cancer are unproven.
Synthetic fragrance – which may contain DEO a phthalate used as a solvent and fixative. Despite the general bad press about phthalates this one is considered safe.
Palm Oil and Palm Kernel Oil (PKO) are used in soap making because they make the soap more bubbly and result in a harder bar. Palm oil – comes from Malaysia and Indonesia. They have cut down hundreds of acres of rainforest to make way for huge plantations of palm oil. This has impacted adversely on the habitat of the orangutang a now endangered species. You can find out more about it and why we minimise our use of palm oil, here .
Other considerations when buying soap might include does the company still do animal testing.
Is it a British company.
Soap Formats
Soap comes in various forms which in my experience are often interchangeable.
Bar Soap – hard. Everything from luxury cosmetic soaps to the increasingly rare dish wash bar.
Soap Flakes – thin slivers of soap that dissolve more easily
Liquid soap such as body wash, shampoo or washing up liquid.
Soap powders mostly for dishwashers and washing machines.
