(August 20, 2026) New progress has been made in the field of organic silicon fine chemicals in China. The production process of carbonhydroxy silicone oil (carbonhydroxy end-capped polydimethylsiloxane) has been continuously improved, resulting in higher product purity and stability of the hydroxyl value. This material is being increasingly used in downstream industries such as polyurethane, coatings, leather, and interior components for new energy vehicles, accelerating the process of domestic substitution.

Unlike traditional silhydroxy silicone oils, carbonhydroxy silicone oil contains C‑OH functional groups in its molecular structure. These groups can react with isocyanates, carboxyl groups, epoxy groups, etc. By using Si‑C covalent bonds, organic silicon segments can be incorporated into polyurethane, polyester, and epoxy resin systems. This approach avoids the problem of easy hydrolysis of Si‑O‑C bonds. After modification, the hydrolytic resistance of the material can be increased by more than 30%, and its service life under high temperature and humidity conditions is significantly extended.

According to actual testing results from downstream customers, automotive interior polyurethane materials modified with carbonhydroxy silicone oil remained free of bubbles and no cracks after 500 hours of aging tests at 85°C and 85% humidity. This meets the stringent reliability requirements for interior components in new energy vehicles. When used in leather coatings, it improves the smoothness, wear resistance, and low-temperature flexibility of the coating, while also providing waterproofing and breathability properties. In building waterproof coatings, after thermal cycling between -20°C and 80°C, the adhesion of the coating remains stable, making it suitable for high-humidity coastal environments.

Industry research shows that with the development of water-based polyurethane, high-end coatings, and synthetic leather, the Chinese market for carbonhydroxy silicone oil has maintained an annual growth rate of around 15% in recent years. In the past, high-quality products were often imported from abroad. Over the past two years, domestic companies have optimized catalytic synthesis and distillation processes, reducing the ring structure content in the product and stabilizing the hydroxyl value range. Many product models have been validated by major downstream customers, and their purchase costs are significantly lower than those of imported products, thus facilitating domestic substitution.

Technical experts in the industry say that the core value of carbonhydroxy silicone oil lies in its reactive modification, not just simple physical blending of additives. It can improve multiple properties such as weather resistance, low-temperature toughness, surface smoothness, and resistance to stains. Current challenges in the industry include producing products with a narrow molecular weight distribution and ensuring consistent quality across batches. In the future, as demand for new energy, high-end textiles, and industrial coatings increases, high-purity carbonhydroxy silicone oil will become an important growth area for specialty organic silicons.

“Downstream manufacturers are also exploring new applications. In addition to traditional PU modifications, there is an increasing number of orders for epoxy composite materials and reactive leveling agents,” said a R&D manager from an organic silicon company. In the future, companies will continue to develop various series of products with different hydroxyl values and functional groups, to meet the needs of various specialty materials, thereby contributing to the upgrading of China’s high-end manufacturing sector through advanced silicone materials.