1. Limitations of traditional dimethyl silicone oil
In the field of silicone materials, dimethyl silicone oil is a common and widely used compound. It is widely used in many industries such as machinery, electronics, and chemicals due to its excellent chemical stability, low surface tension, good high and low temperature resistance, and demolding properties. However, in the molecular structure of traditional dimethyl silicone oil, a large number of methyl (-CH₃) groups are connected on both sides of the silicon oxygen main chain (-Si-O-). This structure gives it a high degree of hydrophobicity, making it almost insoluble in water.
This insolubility brings challenges in the application of many water-based systems. For example, in water-based coating systems, water as a solvent has the advantages of environmental protection and low cost, but dimethyl silicone oil that is insoluble in water cannot be evenly dispersed in the water phase, and it is difficult to play its role in improving the performance of coatings, such as reducing surface tension to improve the leveling of coatings and prevent shrinkage. In the textile printing and dyeing industry, if ordinary dimethyl silicone oil is used to finish fabrics, due to its incompatibility with water, it is difficult to penetrate into the fabric fibers and cannot fully exert the finishing effects such as softness and smoothness.
2. Advantages and demand scenarios of water-soluble silicone oil
Cosmetics industry
In the field of cosmetics, consumers have higher and higher requirements for the skin feel and efficacy of products. Water-soluble silicone oil can be perfectly integrated into water-based cosmetic formulas, such as lotions, creams, essences, etc. It can form a uniform, breathable and thin protective film on the surface of the skin, which not only gives the skin a soft and silky touch, but also improves the spreadability and absorbency of the product. At the same time, its good hydrophilicity helps to evenly distribute other functional ingredients on the surface of the skin and enhance the efficacy of the product. For example, adding water-soluble silicone oil to sunscreen can make the sunscreen spread more evenly on the skin surface, improve the sunscreen effect, and make the user feel more refreshed and comfortable, avoiding the greasy feeling brought by traditional oily ingredients.
Textile printing and dyeing industry
For the textile printing and dyeing industry, water-soluble silicone oil has become a key auxiliary agent to improve the quality of fabrics. It can be formulated with water into a working solution and easily applied to the fabric through processes such as padding and dipping. In the process of fabric finishing, water-soluble silicone oil can penetrate deep into the fiber, giving the fabric a soft, smooth and plump feel, while improving the wrinkle resistance and dimensional stability of the fabric. For example, in the finishing of pure cotton fabrics, water-soluble silicone oil can make the fabric obtain a silk-like luster and feel while maintaining its natural hygroscopicity, thereby increasing the added value of the product. Moreover, the use of water-soluble silicone oil makes the finishing process more environmentally friendly, and water as a solvent is easy to handle, reducing environmental pollution and safety hazards caused by organic solvents.
Leather processing industry
In leather processing, water-soluble silicone oil also plays an important role. Traditional leather processing additives may have problems such as weak bonding with leather and easy migration. Due to its good water solubility and affinity for leather fibers, water-soluble silicone oil can evenly penetrate into the leather, fill the gaps between fibers, and make the leather surface smoother, softer and more elastic. At the same time, it can also form a protective film on the leather surface to enhance the wear resistance and water resistance of the leather, and improve the quality and service life of the leather. For example, in the production process of high-end leather shoes, the use of water-soluble silicone oil to treat leather can make the uppers brighter, softer, more comfortable to wear, and at the same time enhance the market competitiveness of the product.
Water-based coatings, inks and adhesives industry
In water-based coatings, inks and adhesives systems, the addition of water-soluble silicone oil can significantly improve the fluidity and surface properties of the system. It can reduce the surface tension of the system, so that the coating and ink can be better spread on the surface of the substrate, avoiding defects such as flow marks and orange peel, thereby obtaining a flat and smooth surface effect. In adhesives, water-soluble silicone oil can improve the wettability and adhesion of adhesives to different substrates and enhance the bonding strength. For example, adding an appropriate amount of water-soluble silicone oil to water-based wood paint can not only improve the leveling and glossiness of the paint, but also enhance the adhesion of the paint to the wood surface, making the wood surface more beautiful and durable.
In summary, although traditional dimethyl silicone oil has many advantages, its insoluble in water limits its further application in the face of the growing demand for water-based system applications. The emergence of water-soluble silicone oil has made up for this deficiency, brought new development opportunities to many industries, and promoted the improvement of product performance and the optimization of processes.