In the microscopic world of materials science, the remarkable properties of every material originate from its unique molecular structure. Silicone rubber and silicone oil, the "star members" of the organosilicon materials family, have created countless astonishing application miracles in the macroscopic world by virtue of their exquisite molecular design and characteristics. Decoding their performance codes at the molecular level allows us to deeply understand their key roles in various fields.

一、Molecular Structure: The Root of Performance Advantages

The molecular backbone of silicone rubber is composed of siloxane bonds (Si-O), a structure that serves as the cornerstone of its excellent performance. The bond energy of the siloxane bond is as high as 452 kJ/mol, approximately 30% higher than that of common carbon-carbon (C-C) bonds. This strong chemical bond endows silicone rubber with outstanding thermal stability. In high-temperature environments, siloxane bonds are not easily broken, enabling silicone rubber to maintain structural stability at 250°C or even higher temperatures. In low-temperature environments, the helical conformation of the siloxane backbone allows the molecular chain to retain certain mobility, keeping silicone rubber soft at -60°C without embrittlement. The organic groups on the side chains bring diversified performance adjustment possibilities to silicone rubber. By changing the types and quantities of organic groups, properties such as chemical corrosion resistance and biocompatibility can be optimized.

The molecular structure of silicone oil is equally exquisite. Its molecular chain is based on siloxane bonds with a relatively loose structure, giving silicone oil low surface tension and good fluidity. The low surface tension allows silicone oil to quickly spread on the material surface to form a uniform film, while the loose molecular chain endows silicone oil with unique viscosity-temperature characteristics. Its viscosity changes slightly at different temperatures, enabling it to maintain stable performance over a wide temperature range. Meanwhile, the siloxane bonds in silicone oil molecules give it excellent chemical stability and electrical insulation, making it less likely to react with other substances or conduct electricity. These properties lay the foundation for its applications in multiple fields.

二、Energy Sector: Driving Sustainable Development

In the wave of energy transition, silicone rubber and silicone oil have become important forces promoting sustainable energy development by virtue of their performance advantages. In the solar photovoltaic industry, silicone rubber sealants are used for the frame sealing and junction box potting of photovoltaic modules. Their excellent weather resistance can withstand long-term erosion from ultraviolet rays, rain, and sand, while good water resistance prevents moisture from entering the module interior, protecting electronic components from damage. Studies have shown that photovoltaic modules sealed with high-quality silicone rubber can reduce the power attenuation rate by 20%-30%, effectively extending the service life of the modules and improving the efficiency and economy of solar power generation.

Silicone oil plays a key role in the field of lithium batteries. Lithium batteries generate a large amount of heat during charging and discharging, and inadequate heat dissipation will affect battery performance and safety. The good thermal conductivity of silicone oil makes it an ideal heat dissipation medium for batteries. By applying silicone oil to the battery cooling system, it can quickly remove the heat generated by the battery, control the battery temperature within a reasonable range, and improve the charging/discharging efficiency and cycle life of the battery. In addition, the chemical stability and electrical insulation of silicone oil can also prevent internal short circuits in batteries, improve battery safety, and provide reliable support for the development of new energy vehicles and energy storage devices.

三、Medical Health: Guarding the Hope of Life

The medical field has extremely high requirements for material safety and biocompatibility. Silicone rubber and silicone oil have become the "guardians" of the medical health field with their unique properties. The good biocompatibility of silicone rubber makes it the preferred material for manufacturing artificial organs and medical devices. Silicone rubber products such as artificial heart valves and joints can coexist harmoniously with human tissues without causing strong immune rejection. For example, artificial heart valves made of silicone rubber have good flexibility and wear resistance, which can accurately simulate the opening and closing movements of natural heart valves, reduce blood turbulence and the risk of thrombosis, and improve the quality of life and survival rate of patients. Medical devices such as catheters and syringe pistons made of silicone rubber have a soft texture that reduces patient pain and discomfort during treatment.

Silicone oil also has extensive applications in the medical field. In ophthalmic surgery, silicone oil is an important material for treating retinal detachment. When retinal detachment occurs, doctors inject silicone oil into the eyeball, using its buoyancy and surface tension to press the repositioned retina and promote its healing. Silicone oil can remain stable in the eye without causing obvious inflammatory reactions, providing a guarantee for patients' visual recovery. In addition, silicone oil can be used as a drug carrier to prepare sustained-release drug formulations, allowing drugs to be slowly released in the body, improving the therapeutic effect, and reducing the number of administrations.

四、Electronic Information: Promoting Technological Progress

The rapid development of the electronic information industry has put forward higher requirements for material performance, in which silicone rubber and silicone oil play an indispensable role. In electronic device manufacturing, silicone rubber is used for the encapsulation, insulation, and protection of electronic components. Its good electrical insulation can effectively isolate electronic components to prevent short circuits, and its excellent high and low-temperature resistance enables electronic devices to operate stably in different environmental temperatures. For example, in 5G base station equipment, silicone rubber seals can protect internal electronic components from moisture, dust, and corrosive gases, ensuring the normal operation of the base station.

Silicone oil also plays an important role in the electronics industry. In the semiconductor manufacturing process, silicone oil can be used as a solvent and diluent for photoresists. Its good chemical stability does not react with photoresists, ensuring the precision and quality of the photolithography process. In the heat dissipation field of electronic devices, the thermal conductivity of silicone oil makes it an efficient heat dissipation medium, which can quickly transfer the heat generated by electronic components to prevent device performance degradation or damage due to overheating. In addition, silicone oil can be used to manufacture optical bonding materials for flexible displays. Using its low surface tension and high light transmittance, it can eliminate bubbles between the display and the cover, improving the display quality.

From the microscopic molecular structure to the macroscopic application scenarios, silicone rubber and silicone oil have unlocked developmental miracles in one field after another with their own performance codes. With the continuous advancement of technology, the requirements for material performance will become higher and higher. It is believed that silicone rubber and silicone oil will continue to leverage their advantages, make continuous innovative breakthroughs, create remarkable achievements in more fields, and contribute more to the development of human society.


MY 107 hydroxyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane V150000-V550000 -Mingyi Silicone