The term silicone was coined by Frederick Kipping, who pioneered the study of the organic compounds of silicon. Silicones are nonstick, rubber-like and heat-resistant compounds commonly used in lubricants, adhesives, cookware, insulation, sealants, medical applications, and breast implants. They are very stable and resist the effects of heat, water and oxidizing agents. Silicones are any of a diverse class of elastomers, fluids or resins based on polymerized siloxanes, substances whose molecules consist of chains made of alternating silicon and oxygen atoms. Silicone rubber, silicone resin, silicone oil and silicone grease are some common forms of silicone. Silicone rubbers are used as caulking material and gaskets; in specialized tubing; as electrical insulators in coatings, varnishes and encapsulations; as automobile engine components; as flexible windows in air locks and face masks; as surgical membranes and implants; and for laminating glass cloth. Silicone fluids are used in emulsion-breaking compositions, breast implants and hydraulic fluids, and as lubricants, adhesives, protective coatings, and water repellents. Silicones, due to the low water solubility and good spreading properties, are used as active compound in defoamers. Silicone is becoming an important product in the cookware industry and can be used where contact with food is required. Silicone has the potential of replacing plastic in creating toys. The gel form of silicone is used in breast implants, dressings, bandages and a variety of other medical uses. Silicone grease in the automotive field is used as a lubricant for brake components because it is not water-soluble and it is stable at high temperatures. Silicones are ingredients in many shampoo, hair conditioner and hair gel products. Silicone rubber is widely acknowledged in the construction industry because of its strength and reliability.

The most useful properties of silicone are:

1. Low chemical reactivity.

The word plastic derives from the Greek plastikos- fit for molding and plastos- molded. Plastic is a wide range of synthetic or semisynthetic organic amorphous solid materials suitable for the industrial or commercial products. Plastics are polymers of high molecular mass, that may contain other substances to reduce costs or improve performance. Modern manufacturing processes allow them to be pressed, cast, or extruded into different kinds of shapes—such as bottles, fibers, boxes, plates, films, and much more.

There are two types of plastics:

Thermosets, that can melt and take shape once, and stay solid after they have solidified,
Thermoplastics, that will soften and melt when enough heat is applied, for example: polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyethylene, and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
Plastics can be classified by the chemical process used in their synthesis; for example, as cross-linking, condensation or polyaddition.

Plastics can also be classified by their chemical structure, for example, silicone, halogenated plastics, polyesters, polyurethanes or the acrylics.

They can also be ranked by various physical properties, such as tensile strength, resistance to various chemical products, density, glass transition temperature, etc.

Other classifications are based on qualities that are relevant for manufacturing or product design, for example, electrically conductive, elastomer, biodegradable, structural, the thermoplastic and thermoset, etc.

Plastics have already displaced many traditional materials, such as paper, wood, stone, leather, metal, glass, horn and bone; and ceramic.

They are used in a huge range of products because they can easily be manufactured, they are relatively low cost and imperviousness to water and versatility.