Polyether silicone oil: a unique and widely used organic silicon surfactant
1、 Introduction to Polyether Silicone Oil
Polyether silicone oil is a special type of organic silicon polymer, mainly composed of polyether modified polydimethylsiloxane. It combines the polymer properties of organosilicon, such as high bond energy, flexible molecular chains, and low surface tension, with the hydrophilicity and chemical activity brought by polyether groups. Polyether silicone oil is usually a light yellow transparent liquid with good water solubility.

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2、 Performance characteristics of polyether silicone oil
Polyether silicone oil has the following significant performance characteristics:
Low surface tension: Helps to spread liquids on solid surfaces and improve wetting performance.
Excellent wettability: It can quickly wet the surface of materials, improve the uniformity and adhesion of coatings, inks, etc.
Good emulsification and dispersibility: can promote the mixing of oil-water phase and improve the stability of the dispersion system.
Good compatibility with organic surfactants: can be used as an additive in combination with other chemicals to enhance product performance.
Excellent lubricity: reduces friction and extends equipment life.
Ability to assist and suppress foam: effectively control the generation and elimination of foam.

3、 Application fields of polyether silicone oil
Polyether silicone oil is widely used in multiple industries due to its unique properties, with specific applications as follows:
Cosmetics and personal care: used as emulsifier, emollient and defoamer for face cream, lotion, hand cream, shampoo and other products.


Textile industry: As a fabric softener, it improves the hand feel of fabrics, making them soft and smooth.


Agriculture: As a pesticide emulsifier and dispersant, it improves the coverage and efficacy of pesticides.


Chemical and industrial cleaning: As an industrial defoamer and metal cleaner, it can eliminate foam and improve cleaning effect.


Building materials: used as concrete additives and waterproofing agents to improve concrete performance and enhance waterproofing effectiveness.


4、 Market situation of polyether silicone oil
In recent years, the polyether silicone oil market has shown a stable growth trend. In 2023, the total production of China's polyether silicone oil market will reach about 450000 tons. It is expected that by 2030, the global market size of polyether silicone oil will reach 600 million US dollars, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) stable at 5.9%. This growth is mainly due to its widespread application in multiple fields and product upgrades driven by technological innovation.

5、 Preparation method of polyether silicone oil
There are various methods for preparing polyether silicone oil, and common methods include:
Silicon hydrogen addition reaction: Using a porous ceramic supported platinum catalyst, a polyether with an vinyl group at the end is reacted with a hydrogen containing silicone oil in a solvent.
Reaction of fatty acids and allyl alcohol epoxy terminated polyether: By adjusting the proportion and content of lipophilic groups, the hydrophilic and lipophilic balance of polyether modified silicone oil can be controlled.

6、 Summary
Polyether silicone oil, as a high-performance organic silicon surfactant, has been widely used in various fields such as cosmetics, textiles, agriculture, chemical industry, and building materials due to its low surface tension, good wettability, emulsification, and dispersibility. With the continuous growth of market demand and continuous technological innovation, the future development prospects of the polyether silicone oil industry are broad.