فنون

الجمال والعناية

حِرَف

الثقافة والتاريخ

ترفيه

البيئة

الطعام والمشروبات

الهندسة العكسية

العلوم

رياضة

التقنية

الأجهزة القابلة للارتداء

أنشأه

Clay

22. سبتمبر 2026

Silicone (Rochow Direct Process)

Silicones - chains of silicon and oxygen carrying methyl groups - were known from Frederic Kipping's laboratory work, but could only be made a few grams at a time. In 1940 Eugene Rochow at General Electric found a one-step route: pass methyl chloride over hot silicon with copper, and methylchlorosilanes come straight off. Richard Müller found the same reaction independently in Germany, which is why it is also called the Müller-Rochow process. It is how silicones are still made. **US 2,380,995**, "Preparation of organosilicon halides", Rochow, assigned to General Electric, granted 7. August 1945, claims "effecting reaction between silicon and a hydrocarbon halide" with a copper catalyst at 200–500 °C. **Methyl chloride and chlorosilanes are toxic and stay in the plant.** You use the product: a two-part silicone mould of glass marbles, then cast hot wax in it, again and again.

مبتدئ

4 hours plus two cures

التعليمات

Build the box

Cut foam board and hot-glue an open box 60 x 40 mm inside, 50 mm tall. Seal every inside seam with a bead of glue - silicone finds any gap.

المواد لهذه الخطوة:

لوح رغوي لبناء المجسمات1 ورقة

الأدوات المطلوبة:

سكين حِرَفية

مسدس شمع لاصق

مسطرة فولاذية

Clay bed and keys

Press sulphur-free modelling clay 20 mm deep into the box. Push two 16 mm marbles exactly halfway in, 20 mm apart. Press four dimples in the clay with a pencil end: these are the registration keys.

المواد لهذه الخطوة:

صلصال التشكيل150 غ

كرات زجاجية2 قطع

الأدوات المطلوبة:

قدمة رقمية 6 بوصات

Weigh and mix

Weigh part A and part B at the kit's stated ratio into a mixing cup (the notebook gives the mass). Stir 3 minutes, scraping sides and bottom.

المواد لهذه الخطوة:

طقم صنع قوالب سيليكون1 طقم

الأدوات المطلوبة:

ميزان رقمي دقيق

أكواب خلط مدرّجة

قضيب تحريك

First pour

Pour in a thin stream from 30 cm into one corner, never onto the marbles, until 6 mm above them. Cure for the kit's time.

الأدوات المطلوبة:

أكواب خلط مدرّجة

Flip and release

Flip the box, peel away all clay and leave the marbles in the silicone. Brush a thin coat of petroleum jelly over the silicone face - silicone bonds to silicone.

المواد لهذه الخطوة:

فازلين5 غ

Second pour

Mix a second batch the same way and pour 6 mm above the marbles. Cure again.

المواد لهذه الخطوة:

طقم صنع قوالب سيليكون1 طقم

الأدوات المطلوبة:

ميزان رقمي دقيق

أكواب خلط مدرّجة

Open and cut sprues

Tear off the foam board, part the halves and pop out the marbles. With the craft knife cut a 5 mm cone from the top face into each cavity.

الأدوات المطلوبة:

سكين حِرَفية

Cast wax

Melt paraffin wax in the double boiler to 75 °C. Band the halves shut, pour through each sprue, cool 30 minutes, open. Count how many casts it survives.

المواد لهذه الخطوة:

شمع البارافين100 غ

أربطة مطاطية1 عبوة

الأدوات المطلوبة:

قدر الحمّام المائي

مقياس حرارة الحلوى

قفازات لحام

نظارة أمان شفافة

Troubleshoot the mould

Work down in order; each question points to one step to redo.

Flow

Reaction, pour size, siblings

جارٍ تحميل دفتر Jupyter…

History & Context

**What the patent specifies:** silicon reacted with a hydrocarbon halide over copper at 200–500 °C to give organosilicon halides. **Modern build (derived):** a two-part room-temperature-curing mould silicone. Silicone first served in the Second World War as grease and insulation for aircraft ignition systems; today it is sealant, bakeware, medical tubing and every maker's mould rubber. Its limits: it tears easily once nicked, is expensive, and a platinum-cure grade will not set against sulphur, some clays and latex gloves.