(August 12, 2026) Recently, domestic research and development of specialty silicone materials has continued to make progress. Carbon hydroxy silicone oil, with its unique carbon-hydroxyl (C-OH) active structure, has steadily increased its penetration in downstream industries such as polyurethane, coatings, and leather textiles, promoting further localization and substitution in the resin modification additives sector.

Carbon-hydroxy silicone oil is a colorless, transparent oil-like liquid with carbon-linked hydroxyl functional groups at its molecular endpoints. Unlike traditional siloxy-hydroxyl silicone oil, it relies on Si-C chemical bonds to achieve covalent grafting modification with matrices such as polyurethane, epoxy resin, and polyester. After modification, it is less likely to migrate and precipitate, and it exhibits outstanding hydrolysis and weather resistance, addressing industry pain points such as the tendency of conventional physically added silicone oils to precipitate and lack durability.

In polyurethane systems, carbon hydroxysilicone oil can react with isocyanate groups, introducing siloxane chain segments into the polymer framework, effectively improving the coating's water resistance, wear resistance, and low-temperature flexibility, while also improving the stability of the bubble structure. It is widely used in the production of synthetic leather, PU foam materials, elastomers, and other products. Actual test data shows that after adding an appropriate amount of carbon hydroxyl silicone oil for modification, the water contact angle of the polyurethane coating film significantly increases, while the material's water absorption rate drops markedly, balancing hand feel and mechanical performance, suitable for high-end leather, outdoor textiles, and other scenarios.

The coatings industry has become another major core application market. This additive participates in the cross-linking curing of the paint film, giving the coating a smooth tactile feel and anti-stain and weather resistance, without affecting the base color or wood grain transparency, and is suitable for use in furniture paints and industrial protective coatings. After modification, the outdoor weather resistance of the paint film is improved, and even after repeated wiping, the anti-stain effect is maintained, meeting the coating needs of high-end furniture and construction machinery.

In the textile field, carbon hydroxysilicone oil can serve as a key intermediate in hydrophilic silicone softeners, overcoming the hydrophobic drawbacks of traditional silicone oils, giving fabrics a soft and smooth feel while retaining moisture-wicking, sweat-wicking, and anti-static properties, making it suitable for finishing and processing sports fabrics and home textile fabrics.

Industry insiders say that in the past, some high-end grades of domestic carbon hydroxy silicone oil relied on overseas imports. With continuous breakthroughs in synthesis processes and controlled hydroxyl polymerization technology, domestic products have continuously caught up with international standards in hydroxyl value stability and batch consistency. Currently, downstream demand for coatings, synthetic leather, and new energy supporting materials is upgrading, and market demand for reactive modified silicone oil continues to rise. Carbon hydroxysilicone oil is expected to open up greater growth potential.

At the same time, industry insiders also remind that different systems have significant requirements for hydroxyl value and viscosity indicators of carbon hydroxysilicone oil, and the dosage should be optimized according to resin type and process conditions to avoid issues such as compatibility abnormalities and surface defects. Future industry R&D will focus on customized molecular structure development, developing specialized grades for electronics and new energy materials, and expanding application space for special scenarios.