On January 30, 2026, a Chinese research team announced a major technological breakthrough in the field of ethyl silicone oil, successfully developing a special type of ethyl silicone oil with ultra-low temperature resistance, which can maintain stable lubrication effect in extreme environments of -80 ℃. This achievement marks China's entry into the international leading position in the field of extreme environmental materials, providing key technological support for aerospace, deep-sea exploration, and new energy industries.


Technological breakthrough: molecular structure optimization to solve the problem of low-temperature solidification
Traditional silicone oil is prone to solidification due to increased molecular chain rigidity in low-temperature environments, leading to lubrication failure. The research team optimized the flexibility and spatial configuration of silicone oil molecular chains by introducing a specific proportion of ethyl groups, enabling them to maintain fluidity at low temperatures. Experimental data shows that the kinematic viscosity of the new ethyl silicone oil at -80 ℃ is only 1/5 of conventional products, and the friction coefficient is reduced by 30%, effectively solving the lubrication problem of polar scientific research equipment, deep-sea drilling machinery and other extreme environments.


Application scenario: Full coverage from space to deep sea
At present, this technology has been applied in multiple fields:


In the aerospace field, as a valve lubricant for the low-temperature fuel system of the Long March series rockets, it ensures zero failures during launch missions;
New energy industry: becoming the core additive of low-temperature electrolyte for lithium batteries, improving the charging and discharging efficiency of batteries in -40 ℃ environment;
Deep sea engineering: used for sealing the propulsion system of manned submersibles at the 10000 meter level, withstanding dual tests of high pressure and low temperature.
Industry Impact: Promoting Localization of High end Manufacturing
Experts point out that China has long relied on imports for extreme environmental lubricant materials. The mass production of the new ethyl silicone oil will break the foreign technology monopoly, and it is expected to replace more than 50% of imported products in the next three years, driving a growth of over 10 billion yuan in the related industry chain output value. The research team leader stated, "The next step will focus on customized development to meet the special needs of cutting-edge fields such as quantum computing and superconducting technology for ultra-low temperature materials