In the process of agriculture moving towards modernization and intelligence, the application of new materials has become an important force driving industry transformation. Silicone rubber and silicone oil, two materials that have shone in industrial and daily life fields, are quietly integrating into all aspects of agricultural production with their unique performance advantages. From the construction of intelligent greenhouses to the fresh-keeping storage and transportation of agricultural products, from precision irrigation systems to the research and development of green pesticides, they inject technological vitality into traditional agriculture and open a new chapter of agricultural technological innovation.

I. Intelligent Greenhouses: Building an Efficient Planting Environment

Intelligent greenhouses are key facilities for modern agriculture to achieve high and stable yields, and silicone rubber plays an important role in them. The sealing materials of traditional greenhouses are prone to aging and cracking under long-term sunlight, rain, and temperature changes, leading to a decline in the heat preservation and moisture retention performance of greenhouses. Silicone rubber sealant, with its excellent weather resistance, elasticity, and water resistance, has become an ideal choice for intelligent greenhouse sealing. It can closely fit the doors, windows, vents, and other parts of the greenhouse, effectively preventing heat loss and rainwater leakage, and creating a stable growth environment for crops. Even in extreme high or low temperatures, silicone rubber sealant can still maintain good performance, extending the service life of the greenhouse.
In addition, the insulation and chemical stability of silicone rubber make it suitable for the protection of electrical equipment in intelligent greenhouses. Various sensors, controllers, and lighting equipment installed in greenhouses require reliable insulation and protective materials. Insulation sleeves and protective casings made of silicone rubber can protect electrical components from moisture, dust, and chemical erosion, ensuring the stable operation of equipment and providing a guarantee for the intelligent monitoring and regulation of the greenhouse environment.

II. Precision Irrigation: Achieving Efficient Water Resource Utilization

Water scarcity is an important challenge facing global agriculture, and precision irrigation technology has become the key to solving this problem. Silicone oil shows application potential in precision irrigation systems due to its unique physical properties. In drip irrigation systems, the flow control of drip heads is crucial, and traditional drip heads are prone to unstable flow due to impurity blockage or pressure changes. Researchers have tried to apply silicone oil to the flow regulating devices of drip heads, using the high viscosity and stability of silicone oil to precisely regulate the water flow of drip heads by controlling the flow of silicone oil. Even when water pressure fluctuates, silicone oil can maintain a relatively stable flow state, ensuring that each crop receives precise and appropriate moisture, improving water resource utilization efficiency.
At the same time, the low surface tension of silicone oil also has application value in micro-sprinkler irrigation systems. Micro-sprinkler irrigation atomizes water and sprays it onto the surface of crops through sprinklers, requiring sprinklers to have good atomization effect and uniformity. Silicone oil can be used as a lubricating and auxiliary material inside the sprinkler to reduce the resistance of water flow inside the sprinkler, so that water can be atomized and sprayed more evenly, improving the uniformity and coverage of irrigation, and providing a more suitable moisture environment for crop growth.

III. Agricultural Product Preservation: Extending the Shelf Life of Fruits and Vegetables

The preservation of agricultural products is an important link to reduce post-harvest losses and ensure market supply. Silicone rubber plays a unique role in the field of agricultural product preservation with its good air permeability and biocompatibility. Traditional fresh-keeping packaging materials, such as plastic films, have poor air permeability, which easily causes agricultural products to deteriorate due to hypoxia or excessive carbon dioxide accumulation during storage. However, silicone rubber films have moderate air permeability, which can adjust the gas composition inside the package, maintain the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide, and delay the respiration and aging process of agricultural products.
For example, in the fresh-keeping of fruits, apples, oranges, and other fruits packaged with silicone rubber films can extend the fresh-keeping period for several weeks or even months at room temperature. At the same time, the non-toxic and harmless characteristics of silicone rubber ensure the safety of agricultural products during the fresh-keeping process and will not cause harm to human health. In addition, using the flexibility and plasticity of silicone rubber, fresh-keeping boxes and bags of various shapes can also be made to meet the packaging needs of different agricultural products.

IV. Green Pesticides: Promoting the Development of Environmentally Friendly Agriculture

With the enhancement of people's awareness of food safety and environmental protection, the research and development of green pesticides has become an important direction for agricultural development. Silicone oil can be used as an excellent carrier and adjuvant for pesticides due to its good chemical stability and surface activity. Dissolving or dispersing the active ingredients of pesticides in silicone oil to make silicone oil-based pesticide preparations can improve the stability and storage period of pesticides and reduce the decomposition and volatilization of active ingredients.
At the same time, the low surface tension of silicone oil enables it to better adhere to the surface of crops, increasing the coverage area and penetration ability of pesticides, improving the utilization rate of pesticides, and reducing the amount of pesticides used. For example, when spraying pesticides, the pesticide solution added with silicone oil adjuvant can be more evenly distributed on the leaf surface and is not easy to roll off, thereby improving the control effect. In addition, silicone oil-based pesticide preparations also have good environmental compatibility, can be degraded more quickly in the natural environment, reduce pollution to soil, water sources, and the ecological environment, and promote the development of environmentally friendly agriculture.

V. Future Outlook: Opening a New Journey of Agricultural Science and Technology

The application of silicone rubber and silicone oil in the agricultural field has just started, and with the continuous progress of science and technology, they will show greater potential. In terms of smart agriculture, by combining silicone rubber with sensor technology, agricultural equipment with sensing functions will be developed to real-time monitor soil moisture, temperature, nutrients, and other information, providing more accurate data support for precision agriculture. In the field of agricultural robots, using the flexibility of silicone rubber and the lubrication characteristics of silicone oil, more flexible and efficient agricultural robots will be manufactured to achieve automatic planting, picking, and management of crops.
At the same time, with the development of materials science, new silicone rubber and silicone oil materials will continue to emerge, performance will be further optimized, and costs will gradually decrease, thereby promoting their wider application in the agricultural field. Silicone rubber and silicone oil are taking an innovative attitude, injecting new impetus into the development of agricultural science and technology, helping agriculture continue to move forward on the road to modernization, and creating a better future.


Fluoro Silicone Gum-Mingyi Silicone