Global expertise in silicone polymer characterization
Silicones are high-performance polymers based on a siloxane backbone, making up a wide variety of materials including liquids, hard plastics, gels, and rubbers. As a COFRAC ISO 17025 accredited laboratory, FILAB combines deep materials science expertise with state-of-the-art instrumentation to meet the rigorous demands of the pharmaceutical, aerospace, and medical device sectors.
What is silicone?
Silicone, or polysiloxane, is an inorganic-organic polymer consisting of an alternating silicon-oxygen backbone with organic side groups attached to the silicon atoms. This unique structure provides exceptional thermal stability, chemical inertness, and resistance to UV and oxidation.
Because of their biocompatibility and durability, silicones are essential in critical applications:
Why perform silicone testing in a laboratory?
Laboratory testing is essential to validate chemical nature, ensure safety, and maintain regulatory compliance with standards such as REACH, FDA, or USP. Formal analysis allows manufacturers to:
- Verify chemical composition and crosslinking rates to ensure mechanical performance.
- Detect trace impurities such as heavy metals, residual catalysts, or volatile siloxanes that could impact product safety.
- Evaluate aging mechanisms and material durability under specific environmental or thermal stresses.
How can FILAB assist you in characterizing your silicone-based samples ?
FILAB supports industrial clients through three levels of service: analysis, expertise, and R&D support. We utilize a multi-technique approach to provide comprehensive data on your silicone samples, ensuring product reliability and safety.
How can FILAB assist you in characterizing your silicone-based samples ?
FILAB laboratory uses many material characterization techniques which rely on different physicochemical principles. FILAB provides the following services :
- Chemical composition analysis of silicone
- Study of the thermal properties of silicone using DSC and TGA
- Detection of impurities in oils or silicone fluids
- Determination of the silicone and siloxane contents in industrial matrices
- Failure analysis of silicone : odor problems, discoloration, pollution, degradation…
Our equipment for silicone testing
- Organic chemical analysis : GC-MS, Py-GC-MS, LC-MS/MS, GPC, NMR, FTIR
- Inorganic chemical analysis : ICP, XRD, IC
- Thermal analysis : TGA, DSC, Py-GC-MS, ATG-FTIR
- Powder analysis : XRD, SEM-FEG-EDX, BET, Laser Granulometry
- Surface analysis : SEM-FEG-EDX, XPS, ToF-SIM
Our FAQ
Silicone analysis is a set of laboratory techniques used to identify the chemical composition, physical properties, and purity of silicone-based materials. It ensures that the material meets specific industrial standards and performance requirements.
Silicone testing is vital for the pharmaceutical, medical device, aerospace, automotive, and cosmetic sectors. It is often required for regulatory compliance, such as verifying FDA or REACH requirements.
Yes. We use high-sensitivity techniques like ICP-MS for inorganic traces and GC-MS or LC-MS/MS for organic impurities to detect contaminants at extremely low concentrations (ppm or ppb).
We use a methodological Root Cause Analysis (RCA) approach. This typically involves surface analysis (SEM-EDX), chemical fingerprinting (FTIR), and thermal testing (DSC/TGA) to determine if the failure was caused by contamination, material degradation, or process issues.
To obtain a quote, you can contact our team via our contact form, by phone, or by email.
Simply tell us your requirements (type of material, desired analysis, applicable standards, urgency, quantity of samples, etc.). We will then send you a personalized technical and pricing proposal within 24-48 hours.
Turnaround times vary depending on the nature of the analysis and the complexity of the expert assessment project.
However, FILAB is committed to providing fast turnaround times tailored to your industrial constraints and urgent needs.
