On January 26, 2026, a Chinese research team announced a major breakthrough in the field of optimizing the molecular structure of ethyl silicone oil. By introducing a new type of ethyl group regulation technology, a special ethyl silicone oil product with both ultra-low temperature resistance and high load bearing capacity has been successfully developed. This achievement has been certified by a national authoritative institution and has been applied on a large scale in cutting-edge fields such as new energy and deep earth exploration.


Although traditional ethyl silicone oil has excellent low-temperature fluidity, it is prone to lubrication failure in extreme pressure environments. This technological innovation precisely controls the ratio of ethyl to siloxane in the molecular chain, enabling the product to maintain stable lubrication performance over a wide temperature range of -80 ℃ to 200 ℃, while increasing shear strength by 40%. Experimental data shows that in simulating deep drilling conditions, the new ethyl silicone oil can extend the life of the drill bit by 2.3 times and reduce energy consumption by 18%.


This breakthrough provides key material support for the upgrading of low-temperature industrial technology, "said experts from the National Organic Silicon Engineering Technology Research Center. Currently, this technology has been applied in fields such as the propulsion system of Arctic research ships, low-temperature laboratory instruments in Antarctica, and low-temperature electrolytes for new energy lithium batteries. According to industry predictions, with the increasing demand for extreme environmental development worldwide, the market size of special ethyl silicone oil is expected to exceed 1.2 billion yuan by 2028, with a compound annual growth rate of 21%.


It is worth noting that the research team is collaborating with the aerospace department to develop a special lubricant for spacecraft fuel systems. This material needs to maintain fluidity in a vacuum environment of -120 ℃. Ground simulation tests have been completed and it is expected to be launched on the next generation of deep space probes in 2027.