Silicone oil production process: a precise journey from laboratory to industrialization
Silicone oil, a key organic silicon material that plays a crucial role in many industries, is produced through a precise process from laboratory to industrialization, involving multiple complex steps and strict quality control.


The production of silicone oil usually begins with the synthesis of organosilicon monomers. At present, the most commonly used organic silicon monomer is dimethyl dichlorosilane, which can be synthesized through direct or indirect methods. The direct method is to react silicon powder with chloromethane under high temperature and pressure and the action of copper catalyst to generate dimethyldichlorosilane and other by-products, and then separate them by distillation to obtain high-purity dimethyldichlorosilane. The indirect method is to first prepare silicon dioxide or polymerized silicon oxide precursor, and then react it with organic groups to generate organosilicon monomer. However, this method is complex to operate and has a low yield, mainly used for the preparation of advanced organosilicon materials.


After obtaining the organic silicon monomer, the next step is to carry out hydrolysis condensation reaction. Reacting dimethyldichlorosilane with water under certain conditions produces cyclic compounds such as octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4). These cyclic compounds are important intermediates for the synthesis of silicone oil. The conditions of hydrolysis condensation reaction need to be strictly controlled, including reaction temperature, reaction time, water dosage, etc., to ensure the smooth progress of the reaction and the quality of the product.


The next step is the polymerization reaction of silicone oil. Place the cyclic compound, capping agent, and catalyst into a polymerization reactor and carry out the polymerization reaction at a certain temperature and pressure. The time and temperature of the polymerization reaction have a significant impact on the molecular weight and viscosity of silicone oil. By controlling the reaction conditions, silicone oil products with different viscosities and molecular weights can be prepared. For example, to prepare low viscosity silicone oil, shorter reaction times and lower reaction temperatures can be used; To prepare high viscosity silicone oil, it is necessary to extend the reaction time and increase the reaction temperature.


After the polymerization reaction is completed, the product still needs to undergo low molecular weight treatment. During the polymerization reaction, some low boiling point small molecule compounds such as methane and hydrogen are produced, which can affect the quality and properties of silicone oil. Therefore, it is necessary to remove low molecular weight substances through methods such as vacuum distillation to obtain pure silicone oil products.


Finally, quality inspection and packaging of silicone oil products should be carried out. Quality inspection includes testing of multiple indicators such as viscosity, density, refractive index, flash point, etc., to ensure that the product meets relevant standards and customer requirements. Qualified silicone oil products will be packaged in different specifications of packaging containers, such as barrels, bottles, etc., for transportation and storage.


The production process of silicone oil is a precise and complex process that requires strict control of the process conditions at each stage to ensure the quality and performance of the product. With the continuous advancement of technology, the production process of silicone oil is also constantly optimized and improved to improve production efficiency, reduce costs, enhance product quality, and meet the growing demand for silicone oil products in the market.