In the vast system of organic silicon materials, silicone oil, as a unique type of linear polysiloxane product, has become a key material for promoting modern industrial and consumer upgrading due to its excellent performance and wide application fields. From aerospace to daily care, from electronic packaging to new energy development, silicone oil is infiltrating every corner of the national economy with the posture of an "invisible champion".


1、 Technological iteration: a leap from laboratory to industrial production
The industrial production of silicone oil can be traced back to the mid-20th century. In the 1940s, the breakthrough in direct synthesis technology of methylchlorosilane laid the foundation for the large-scale production of organic silicon materials. Subsequently, the maturity of dimethyl dichlorosilane distillation technology made large-scale production of silicone oil possible. Through key processes such as hydrolysis, cracking, distillation, and polymerization, silicone oil has gradually moved from a rare substance in the laboratory to the industrial stage.


With technological iteration, the silicone oil family continues to grow. From the initial single methyl silicone oil, to now covering various modified varieties such as phenyl silicone oil, amino silicone oil, vinyl silicone oil, fluorosilicone oil, etc., the performance of silicone oil continues to be optimized and its application scenarios continue to expand. For example, phenyl silicone oil has significantly improved its high-temperature resistance by introducing phenyl groups, making it the preferred sealing material for spacecraft; Amino silicone oil exhibits excellent performance in textile soft finishing due to its strong adsorption properties; Fluorosilicone oil occupies a place in the field of chemical equipment anti-corrosion coatings due to its chemical corrosion resistance.


2、 Performance Analysis: The "Superpower" Endowed by Molecular Structure
The uniqueness of silicone oil lies in its molecular structure. The spiral conformation of the main chain composed of - Si-O-Si - endows it with a low viscosity temperature coefficient, making viscosity minimally affected by temperature and maintaining stable fluidity under different operating conditions. Side chain groups are like "functional modules", with methyl groups providing cost advantages, phenyl groups enhancing temperature resistance, and amino groups improving interfacial bonding ability, jointly constructing the "performance matrix" of silicone oil.


In addition, silicone oil also has high electrical insulation, weather resistance, hydrophobicity, physiological inertness and other characteristics, making it shine in fields such as electronics and electrical engineering, construction, and medical care. For example, in electronic devices, silicone oil serves as insulation oil and heat transfer oil, effectively preventing current leakage and improving heat dissipation efficiency; In the field of construction, silicone oil is used as a waterproofing agent to extend the service life of materials; In the medical field, silicone oil is widely used for lubricating surgical instruments and manufacturing artificial organs due to its physiological inertness.


3、 Market pattern: China leads global production capacity, accelerating high-end transformation
Global organic silicon production capacity continues to gather in China. Data shows that by 2025, the proportion of organic silicon monomer production capacity in China will reach 77.33%, an increase of over 30 percentage points compared to 2020. The domestic silicone oil production capacity has also expanded synchronously, with a production capacity of about 1.07 million tons and a production capacity of 620000 tons in 2023. The apparent consumption has steadily increased to 520000 tons.


In terms of market concentration, the Chinese silicone oil industry presents a pattern of "leading by the top and differentiation among small and medium-sized enterprises". Enterprises such as Hesheng Silicon Materials and Dongyue Silicon Materials dominate the high-end market with their complete industrial chain and advanced technology. For example, Hesheng Silicon Materials has optimized its production process to produce high-performance silicone oil products, which are widely used in fields such as electronics, electrical, cosmetics, etc; Dongyue Silicon Materials relies on technological innovation to develop silicone oil products suitable for emerging fields such as cooling fluids, expanding their application boundaries.


However, the domestic silicone oil industry still faces the dual challenges of overcapacity and dependence on imported high-end products. In the first three quarters of 2025, the price of DMC (organic silicon intermediate) fell to a new low in nearly a decade, and the industry's profits continued to suffer losses. In order to overcome difficulties, enterprises are accelerating their transformation towards high-end products. On the one hand, by developing innovative processes such as nanomodification and graphene composites, the added value of products can be enhanced; On the other hand, we are expanding into high growth areas such as new energy, healthcare, and electronics, and developing specialized silicone oil products. For example, the silicone oil project put into operation at the Wacker Zhangjiagang base has some products that can be applied to the cosmetics industry, meeting the market's demand for high-quality specialty silicone oil.


4、 Future outlook: Emerging fields drive demand, green transformation becomes consensus
Looking ahead, industries such as new energy vehicles, healthcare, and electronics will become the main engines driving the growth in demand for silicone oil. The penetration rate of new energy vehicles has increased, and the amount of adhesive used is 7 times that of ordinary fuel vehicles. The demand for organic silicon is expected to grow rapidly; Due to the aging population in the medical field, the demand for silicone rubber in surgery, nursing, medical aesthetics, and artificial organs continues to rise; In the electronic and electrical sector, the application of silicone oil in the bonding, packaging, and heat dissipation of electronic devices continues to deepen.


At the same time, the strengthening of environmental policies will promote the transformation of the silicone oil industry towards greenization. Enterprises need to find a balance between environmental requirements and economic benefits, and enhance their sustainable development capabilities by improving production processes and developing environmentally friendly products. For example, using bio based materials instead of petroleum based materials to reduce carbon emissions; Optimize production processes, reduce wastewater and exhaust emissions, and achieve clean production.