ABSTRACT
Silicone water-based elastomers, sometimes referred to as SWBE or silicone rubber latex or silicone latex, are aqueous dispersions or emulsions of silicone polymers that deliver silicone elastomers, usually in the form of films, upon removal of water [1-4]. Figure 4.1 shows a dried film of silicone water-based elastomer. These dispersions or emulsions can exist in several different forms, and they are used in a variety of applications, such as coatings, additives for coatings and inks, sealants, and binders for ceramics or other substances. In the area of coatings, silicone water-based elastomers are used as architectural coatings, air barrier coatings, fabric coatings, and release coatings. In all of these types of coatings, 100% of the binder is usually silicone and it is in the form of an elastomer, although there are some instances when silicone water-based elastomers are combined with organic polymer emulsions or dispersions to achieve particular properties resulting from the combined siliconeorganic compositions.
