Different types of silicone oil and their differences

Silicone oil is a type of organic silicon compound with silicon oxygen bonds (Si-O) as the main chain, which has excellent high and low temperature resistance, electrical insulation, chemical stability, and lubricity. It is widely used in industrial, daily chemical, medical and other fields. According to their chemical structure and functional properties, silicone oil can be divided into the following main types:

1、 Classified by chemical structure
Methyl silicone oil (polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS)
Characteristics: The most basic type of silicone oil, with the main chain composed of silicon oxygen bonds and the side chain being methyl.
Applications: lubricants, release agents, defoamers, insulating oils, etc.
Advantages: Low cost, stable performance, suitable for most industrial scenarios.
Phenyl Silicone Oil
Characteristic: On the basis of methyl silicone oil, some methyl groups are replaced by phenyl groups.
Category:
Low phenyl silicone oil: Low phenyl content, good cold resistance.
High phenyl silicone oil: high phenyl content, significantly improved heat resistance and refractive index.
Application: High temperature lubrication, optical materials, aerospace field.
Modified silicone oil
Characteristic: By introducing other functional groups such as amino, epoxy, polyether, etc., the performance can be altered.
Category:
Amino silicone oil: used for soft finishing of textiles.
Polyether modified silicone oil: enhanced hydrophilicity, suitable for daily chemical and coating fields.
Fluorosilicone oil: Combined with fluorocarbon chains, it is resistant to high temperatures and corrosion, and is used in extreme environments.
Application: Specific functional requirements such as waterproofing, anti fouling, lubrication, etc.
2、 Classified by functional characteristics
Thermal conductive silicone oil
Features: High thermal conductivity, used for heat dissipation management.
Applications: electronic devices, LED lighting, power semiconductors.
Damping silicone oil
Features: High viscosity, high damping coefficient, used for shock absorption and noise reduction.
Applications: Precision instruments, automotive suspension systems.
Insulating silicone oil
Features: Excellent electrical insulation performance.
Applications: Transformers, capacitors, high-voltage equipment.
Hydrophilic/hydrophobic silicone oil
Characteristics: Hydrophilic or hydrophobic properties are achieved through modification.
Application:
Hydrophilic silicone oil: used as a biomedical and agricultural additive.
Hydrophobic silicone oil: used for waterproof coating and anti fouling treatment.
3、 Classified by physical state
Conventional fluid silicone oil
Features: Wide viscosity range and good fluidity.
Application: General lubrication, sealing, demolding.
High viscosity silicone oil
Features: High viscosity and strong stability.
Application: sealant, adhesive, high load lubrication.
Low temperature fluid silicone oil
Characteristic: Maintain fluidity at low temperatures.
Applications: Polar equipment, low-temperature electronic components.
4、 Difference Summary
Characteristic: Methyl silicone oil, phenyl silicone oil modified silicone oil
The main chain of the chemical structure is a silicon oxygen bond, and the side chain is a methyl group. The methyl group is partially replaced by a phenyl group to introduce other functional groups
Temperature resistance -50 ℃~200 ℃ -50 ℃~300 ℃ depends on the type of modification
General industrial high temperature and optical specific functional requirements in application fields
Low cost, medium high, high (functional type)


5、 Examples of application scenarios
Electronic industry: Thermal conductive silicone oil is used for heat dissipation, and insulating silicone oil is used for capacitors.
Textile industry: Amino silicone oil is used for soft finishing, and polyether modified silicone oil is used for anti-static.
Medical field: Hydrophilic silicone oil is used for coating artificial organs, and hydrophobic silicone oil is used for drug carriers.
Daily chemical products: Polyether modified silicone oil is used for shampoo and skincare products.
conclusion
There are many types of silicone oil, and the selection should be based on specific application requirements (such as temperature resistance, lubricity, insulation, etc.) and cost considerations. Methyl silicone oil is suitable for general use, while modified silicone oil and phenyl silicone oil are tailored to specific functional requirements. With the development of technology, the application of silicone oil in new energy, biomedicine and other fields will be further expanded.