Technical Challenges and Breakthroughs in the Silicone Oil Industry
1、 Technical challenges
The products are concentrated in the mid to low end market, and high-end silicone oil relies on imports
Domestic silicone oil production enterprises are mostly concentrated in the mid to low end market, with serious product homogenization and a lack of core technology and innovation capabilities. However, high-end silicone oil products (such as high-performance modified silicone oil, electronic grade silicone oil, etc.) still rely on imports due to high technological barriers and large R&D investment. This puts domestic enterprises at a disadvantage in the high-end market competition, making it difficult to meet the demand for high-performance silicone oil in emerging industries such as new energy, electronic information, aerospace, etc.
Energy consumption and environmental issues in the production process
The production process of silicone oil requires a large amount of energy consumption, and some production processes have environmental pollution risks. For example, the traditional production process of silicone oil may produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions, which have an impact on the environment. In addition, improper disposal of waste generated during the production process of silicone oil may also lead to resource waste and environmental pollution.
Insufficient technological innovation capability
The overall R&D investment in the domestic silicone oil industry is insufficient, and the technological innovation capability is weak. Enterprises lack independent intellectual property rights in the research and development of high-end products such as modified silicone oil and functional silicone oil, resulting in low product added value and insufficient market competitiveness.
Inconsistent industry standards and irregular market order
The lack of unified technical standards and specifications in the silicone oil industry has led to uneven product quality in the market. Some enterprises, in order to reduce costs, use inferior raw materials or simplify production processes to produce low-quality products, disrupting market order and affecting the overall image of the industry.
2、 Technological breakthrough direction
Increase R&D investment and promote the localization of high-end silicone oil
Enterprises should increase their research and development investment in the high-end silicone oil field, focusing on breakthroughs in key technologies such as modified silicone oil and functional silicone oil. For example, by introducing active groups such as amino, epoxy, and polyether groups, modified silicone oils with special properties can be developed to meet the needs of different industries. At the same time, we will strengthen cooperation with universities and research institutes, promote the integration of industry, academia, and research, and accelerate the transformation of technological achievements.
Optimize production processes, reduce energy consumption and environmental risks
Enterprises should optimize their production processes, adopt green and environmentally friendly technologies, and reduce energy consumption and pollutant emissions during the production process. For example, promoting the use of solvent-free synthesis, biocatalysis and other processes to reduce the emission of harmful substances such as chloromethane. In addition, by improving catalysts and reaction conditions, reaction efficiency can be increased and production costs can be reduced.
Strengthen standardization construction and regulate market order
The industry should strengthen standardization construction, formulate unified technical standards and specifications, and improve product quality and market access barriers. By establishing a comprehensive quality inspection system, strengthening supervision of silicone oil products in the market, cracking down on counterfeit and inferior products, and maintaining market order.
Promote the research and development of environmentally friendly silicone oil products
With the increasingly strict environmental regulations, enterprises should increase their research and development efforts on environmentally friendly silicone oil products. For example, developing biodegradable and low VOC emission silicone oil products to meet the demand for environmentally friendly materials in fields such as daily chemical, textile, and coatings. At the same time, explore the recycling technology of silicone oil waste to achieve the circular utilization of resources.
Expand emerging application areas and promote industrial upgrading
Enterprises should pay attention to the development trends of emerging industries and actively expand the application of silicone oil in emerging fields. For example, in the field of new energy, silicone oil can be used as battery thermal management fluid, motor insulation lubricant, etc; In the field of electronic information, silicone oil can be used for chip packaging, photoresist stripping agents, etc. By expanding its application areas, we aim to promote the development of the silicone oil industry towards high-end and intelligent directions.
3、 Future prospects
With the continuous advancement of technology and the upgrading of market demand, the silicone oil industry will usher in new development opportunities. In the future, enterprises should adhere to innovation driven, increase research and development investment, break through the technological bottleneck of high-end silicone oil, and improve product quality and performance. At the same time, the industry should strengthen standardization construction, regulate market order, and promote the sustainable development of the silicone oil industry. Through technological innovation and industrial upgrading, the silicone oil industry is expected to play a greater role in high-end manufacturing, new energy, environmental protection, and other fields, making greater contributions to the development of the national economy.