Silicones are one of the world's most versatile materials. Silicon is the most abundant element on earth after oxygen and silicones can take on an incredible variety of forms, from fluids thinner than water to greases, foams, rubbers and resins. They can be made to conduct heat or transmit no heat at all.
Some of their uses are very well-known, eg: building sealants, automotive products, lubricants and additives to paints to give them extra gloss and make them scratch-resistant. Not so well-known is that they are used as anti-foam agents in detergents and also have applications in cosmetics and toiletries. For example, silicones make roll-on deodorants roll, creams non-greasy, mascara water-proof and toothpaste non-foaming. They are added to duvets and padded jackets to give polyester a springy feel and to ensure that they do not pack-down when washed and they are used extensively in the electronics industry to seal components and protect them.
The world's largest silicone plant, valued at around US$243 million, resulted from the expenditure of 1.4 million manhours of work in Aker Solutions' Solent operation. A home-office team peaking at 220 people was recruited to design and build this very large plant in South Wales.
To meet the client's needs and phasing requirements, the plant was developed over a period of six years. The technology is proprietary to Dow Corning and secrecy and confidentiality were key parts of the execution strategy. A secure task-force approach, with controlled access, ensured that this objective was achieved. Our scope of work included the front-end package, engineering, procurement and both project and construction management. The project safety record was excellent and resulted in the award of the RoSPA Gold Certificate for site work.
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