Plastic films are widely used in food packaging, daily chemical soft packaging, optical films, lithium battery substrates, and building protection films, etc. During the production process of PE films, BOPP films, and PET functional films, problems such as membrane adhesion, difficult peeling during winding, high-speed cutting abrasion, and accumulation of friction static electricity have long been encountered. Traditional lubricants mostly use organic additives such as azelaic acid amide, which have a low temperature resistance limit and are prone to volatilization and failure at high temperatures. However, modified silicone oil with excellent heat resistance and low friction characteristics has become an important functional additive in high-end film formulations.
Film production can be divided into two application schemes: internal addition and surface coating. For the internal addition type of lubricating silicone oil, it is mixed with resin particles before extrusion, and is uniformly dispersed in the substrate during the processing, slowly migrating to the surface of the film and forming a microscopic lubricating layer, reducing the dynamic friction coefficient of the film. During film winding and stacking, it effectively prevents the adhesion of film layers, facilitating smooth unwinding in subsequent bag-making, printing, and laminating processes, reducing film stretching and tearing, and accidents of film rupture, significantly improving the operational stability of the film production line. In the functional film production scenario of high-temperature curing processes, common amide-based lubricants are easily volatilized at high temperatures, resulting in a decline in later lubrication effects. Modified silicone oil's superior temperature resistance is fully demonstrated, allowing for long-term maintenance of stable lubrication performance.
For high-visibility PET films, release base films, etc., high-visibility modified silicone oil does not induce an increase in haze, ensuring the transparency of the film, and simultaneously solving surface scratches during high-speed cutting and rewinding of the roll material. For lithium battery separators and new energy functional films, the formulation design is more stringent, requiring strict control of silicone oil migration. Controllable migration silicone oil can balance lubrication effect and coating adhesion, avoiding the excessive release of lubricants, which leads to subsequent coating detachment and increased pinholes, meeting the high-standard production requirements of new energy films.
Water-based coating silicone oil is suitable for film substrates that cannot be added with internal additives. It forms an ultra-thin lubricating layer on the film surface through a lightweight coating method, with the additive not penetrating the substrate interior, requiring lower usage and having minimal impact on the film's inherent performance. At the same time, silicone oil has excellent hydrophobic properties, giving packaging films a certain waterproof and anti-stain effect, enhancing the end-user experience. With the advancement of global plastic restriction policies, the demand for recyclable and environmentally friendly films is increasing, and low-extraction, halogen-free modified film-specific silicone oils have gradually become the mainstream choice in the market.
IOTA film-specific lubricating silicone oil distinguishes itself in multiple product lines such as general packaging films, optical films, and new energy films, capable of matching different processing speeds, processing temperatures, and downstream composite printing requirements. In recent years, the soft packaging industry and new energy film material industry have expanded rapidly, and the market's requirements for film appearance, processing stability, and long-term performance have continuously upgraded. As a core additive for differentiated film products, lubricating silicone oil has a steadily growing market demand, continuously driving the plastic film industry towards a high-end functional direction.