Polyvinyl siloxane

Polyvinyl siloxane (PVS), also called poly-vinyl siloxane, vinyl polysiloxane, or vinylpolysiloxane, is an addition-reaction silicone elastomer (an addition silicone). It is a viscous liquid that cures ("dries") quickly into a rubber-like solid, taking the shape of whatever surface it was lying against while curing. As with 2-part epoxy, its package keeps its 2 component liquids in separate tubes until the moment they are mixed and applied, because once mixed, they cure (harden) rapidly. Polyvinyl siloxane is widely used in dentistry as an impression material. It is also used in other contexts where an impression similar to a dental impression is needed, such as in audiology (to take ear impressions for fitting custom hearing protection or hearing aids) or in industrial applications (such as to aid in the inspection of interior features of machined parts, for example, internal grooves inside bores). Polyvinyl siloxane was commercially introduced in the 1970s.