1. What is ethyl silicone oil?
Ethyl silicone oil is a silicone polymer with a silicon-oxygen bond (-Si-O-Si-) as the skeleton and an ethyl group on the side chain. Its chemical structure gives it a series of special properties that distinguish it from other types of silicone oils. It usually appears as a colorless, transparent or slightly yellow liquid with low volatility and good thermal stability.


2. Characteristics of ethyl silicone oil
(1) Excellent thermal stability
Ethyl silicone fluid maintains stable physical and chemical properties over a wide temperature range. In high-temperature environments, it is not easy to decompose, oxidize or deteriorate, which allows it to be used in some industrial processes that have strict temperature requirements, such as high-temperature lubrication, electronic component heat dissipation, etc., effectively ensuring the performance of equipment under high-temperature conditions. normal operation.
(2) Good lubricity
It has excellent lubrication properties and can significantly reduce the coefficient of friction. Whether between metals or on the friction surfaces of plastics, rubber and other materials, ethyl silicone oil can form a uniform lubricating film, reduce wear and energy loss, extend the service life of mechanical equipment, and improve mechanical efficiency. For example, in some key components of automobile engines and precision mechanical transmission devices, the lubrication effect of ethyl silicone oil can help reduce noise and reduce the probability of failure.
(3) Low surface tension
Ethyl silicone oil has low surface tension, which gives it good spreadability and penetration. It spreads quickly across a variety of surfaces and wets into small cracks and pores, making it excellent in waterproofing, moisture-proofing and as a release agent. In the field of building waterproofing, ethyl silicone oil can penetrate into the tiny pores of building materials and form a hydrophobic protective film to effectively prevent the intrusion of moisture; during the molding and processing of plastic and rubber products, it can be used as a release agent to make the products It can be smoothly separated from the mold without adversely affecting the surface quality of the product, ensuring the smoothness and dimensional accuracy of the product.
(4) Chemical inertness
Ethyl silicone oil has high chemical stability, good tolerance to most acids, alkalis, salts and other chemical substances, and is not prone to chemical reactions with them. This chemical inertness allows it to be used safely in some industrial situations with corrosive environments, such as the sealing and lubrication of certain reaction media in chemical production, and its application in battery manufacturing processes in the presence of acids and bases, etc., which greatly broadens the scope of its scope of application.
(5) Electrical insulation
It is an excellent electrical insulator with high breakdown voltage and resistivity. In the electronic and electrical field, ethyl silicone oil is widely used in insulation filling and impregnation processing of electrical equipment such as transformers, capacitors, relays, etc. It can effectively prevent the occurrence of electrical breakdown and leakage, ensure the safe and stable operation of electrical equipment, and improve electrical equipment. System reliability and durability.


3. Wide application of ethyl silicone oil
(1) Industrial field
High-temperature lubrication: In high-temperature industrial environments such as steel, metallurgy, and aerospace, various mechanical equipment, such as transmission components of high-temperature furnaces and bearings of aerospace engines, need to withstand high temperature and high-load friction. The high-temperature stability and good lubricity of ethyl silicone oil make it an ideal high-temperature lubricant, which can ensure the normal operation of these equipment under extreme conditions and reduce equipment failure and maintenance costs caused by friction.
Hydraulic system: In some hydraulic systems that require high performance of hydraulic oil, such as hydraulic devices of precision machine tools and engineering machinery, ethyl silicone oil can provide stable performance due to its low compressibility, good shear resistance and lubricity. Hydraulic power transmission ensures precise control and efficient operation of the system, while reducing system leakage and wear and extending the service life of the equipment.
Sealing material: used for impregnation treatment of various mechanical seals, oil seals, O-rings, etc. or as a basic component of sealants. Ethyl silicone oil can fill the tiny pores of the sealing material, improve its sealing performance, prevent the leakage of liquid or gas, and due to its chemical inertness, it will not cause pollution or corrosion to the sealing medium. It is suitable for sealing situations of various industrial fluids, such as Chemical, petroleum, pharmaceutical and other industries.
(2) Electronic and electrical fields
Electrical insulation: As mentioned earlier, in electrical equipment such as transformers and capacitors, ethyl silicone oil serves as an insulating medium, which can effectively isolate electrical components and prevent current leakage and short circuits. Ethyl silicone oil also plays an important role in the moisture-proof and anti-corrosion coating of electronic circuit boards. It can form a protective film to protect electronic circuits from moisture, dust and chemical substances, and improve the reliability of electronic equipment. and stability.
Heat dissipation medium: As electronic devices become more and more integrated, heat dissipation issues have become one of the key factors restricting their performance improvement. Ethyl silicone oil has high specific heat capacity and thermal conductivity, which can effectively conduct the heat generated by electronic components and achieve rapid heat dissipation. In the cooling systems of some high-performance computer chips, power amplifiers and other electronic devices, thermal grease or cooling fluid containing ethyl silicone oil is often used to improve heat dissipation efficiency, ensure that electronic equipment operates within the normal operating temperature range, and prevent overheating. This can lead to performance degradation or even equipment damage.
(3) Daily chemical field
Additives for skin care products and cosmetics: Ethyl silicone oil has good lubricity, spreadability and breathability, which enables skin care products and cosmetics to form a smooth and even protective film on the skin surface, giving the product a good touch and use experience. It can increase the gloss, ductility and durability of cosmetics without clogging pores and is gentle to the skin. It is often used in facial creams, lotions, foundations, lipsticks and other products as moisturizers, lubricants and thickeners. ingredients to enhance product quality and market competitiveness.
Hair care products: In hair care products such as shampoo, conditioner, and hair masks, ethyl silicone oil can adhere to the surface of the hair, fill the damage to the hair scales, make the hair smooth, supple, and easy to comb, and reduce hair breakage. It eliminates static electricity and frizz, improves the gloss and texture of hair, and helps repair damaged hair. It is deeply loved by consumers.
(4) Other fields
Pharmaceutical industry: In the pharmaceutical field, ethyl silicone oil can be used for lubrication and anti-rust treatment of medical equipment, such as surface coatings of surgical instruments, syringes, etc., to reduce friction between the equipment and human tissue or other substances, and improve the smoothness of operation. and security. In addition, it can also be used as an excipient for pharmaceutical preparations and used in sustained-release and controlled-release systems of certain drugs to control the release speed and time of drugs and improve the efficacy and safety of drugs.
Agricultural field: In agricultural production, ethyl silicone oil can be used as a synergist and spray auxiliary for pesticides and fertilizers. It can reduce the surface tension of pesticide and chemical fertilizer solutions, allowing them to better spread and adhere to the surface of plant leaves, improve the utilization rate of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, and reduce usage and environmental pollution. At the same time, it can also be used as a lubricant for water in agricultural irrigation systems, reducing the friction resistance of pipelines and improving irrigation efficiency.


4. Production and development trends of ethyl silicone oil
(1) Production technology
The production of ethyl silicone oil usually uses the hydrolysis and polycondensation reaction of silicone monomers. First, ethyltriethoxysilane and the like are used as raw materials, and a hydrolysis reaction is carried out under the action of a catalyst to generate a hydroxyl-containing silanol intermediate. Then, these silanol intermediates undergo further polycondensation reactions, and the polymer chain of ethyl silicone oil is gradually constructed through the formation of silicon-oxygen bonds. During the production process, precise control of reaction conditions such as temperature, pressure, catalyst type and dosage is crucial, which directly affects the molecular weight, structure and performance of ethyl silicone oil. At present, the industry has developed a relatively mature continuous production process, which can achieve large-scale, high-efficiency production and meet the market demand for ethyl silicone oil.
(2) Development trends
With the continuous advancement of science and technology and the increasing requirements for high-performance materials in various industries, the development of ethyl silicone oil has also shown some new trends. On the one hand, researchers are committed to developing new catalysts and synthesis processes to further improve the performance indicators of ethyl silicone oil, such as higher thermal stability, lower volatility, better lubrication performance, etc., to meet the needs of high-end industrial fields For example, aerospace, semiconductor manufacturing, etc. have strict requirements on material performance. On the other hand, with the increasing awareness of environmental protection, the research and development of green and environmentally friendly ethyl silicone oil has become a hot topic. By using environmentally friendly raw materials and optimizing production processes, we can reduce waste emissions and energy consumption during the production process, and develop environmentally friendly and biocompatible ethyl silicone oil products to meet the needs of the era of sustainable development. In addition, research on the composite application of ethyl silicone oil and other functional materials has also attracted increasing attention. By compounding ethyl silicone oil with nanomaterials, polymer materials, etc., it is expected to develop new materials with multi-functional synergistic effects and expand their application in smart devices. Application prospects in emerging fields such as materials and biomedical engineering.