What is Silicone Oil?

Silicone oil is a transparent, stable, and versatile synthetic fluid mainly composed of siloxane polymers. Among various types, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) (link to: “Difference Between PDMS and PMS”/“Types of Silicone Fluids”/PDMS产品页)is the most widely used due to its excellent thermal stability, low surface tension, chemical resistance, and lubrication performance.

Silicone oil is widely applied across industries such as textiles (link to:“Applications of Silicone Oil”), electronics (link to: “Industrial Uses of Silicone Oil”), cosmetics, construction, automotive, and chemical processing. Compared with conventional mineral oils, silicone oil offers superior resistance to high and low temperatures, oxidation, and moisture, making it suitable for demanding industrial environments.

Depending on viscosity and formulation, silicone oils can function as lubricants, heat transfer fluids, release agents, antifoaming agents, insulating materials, and additives. Their long service life and stable performance have made silicone fluids (link to: “Types of Silicone Fluids”)essential materials in many modern industrial applications worldwide.

Applications of Silicone Oil

Silicone oil is widely used in industrial and commercial applications due to its excellent thermal stability, lubrication performance, and chemical resistance. In the textile industry(link to:“Applications of Silicone Oil”), it is commonly used as a softening and smoothing agent to improve fabric feel and processing performance.

In electronics and electrical systems, silicone oil serves as an insulating and cooling medium because of its stable dielectric properties. The cosmetics and personal care industry also uses silicone fluids in skincare, haircare, and makeup products for their smooth texture and moisture-resistant characteristics.

Additionally, silicone oil is widely applied in defoamers, mold release agents, hydraulic fluids, and heat transfer systems. In automotive and construction industries, it helps improve durability, lubrication, and weather resistance. With its broad compatibility and stable performance, silicone oil remains an important material across many industrial sectors.

Types of Silicone Fluids

Silicone fluids are available in various types depending on their chemical structure, viscosity, and application requirements. The most common type is polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)(link to PDMS 产品页), known for its excellent thermal stability, lubrication, and low surface tension. PDMS fluids are widely used in textiles, cosmetics, lubricants, and industrial processing.

Phenyl silicone fluids offer improved low-temperature performance and radiation resistance, making them suitable for aerospace and electronic applications. Hydrogen silicone fluids contain reactive Si-H groups and are often used in waterproofing agents and silicone modification processes.

Modified silicone fluids, such as polyether-modified or amino-modified silicones, are designed for specialized applications including textile finishing, agriculture, coatings, and personal care products. Silicone fluids are also classified by viscosity, ranging from low-viscosity volatile fluids to high-viscosity silicone oils used in damping and lubrication systems.

Difference Between PDMS and PMS

PDMS and PMS are two important types of silicone-based materials, but they differ significantly in chemical structure and application performance. PDMS, or polydimethylsiloxane, is the most common silicone oil and contains methyl groups attached to the silicon atoms. It is widely known for its flexibility, thermal stability, lubrication, and low surface tension.

PMS generally refers to polymethylsiloxane materials with different structural characteristics and functional properties. Compared with PDMS, PMS products may provide improved insulation, sealing, oxidation resistance, or specialized industrial performance depending on formulation and molecular structure.

PDMS is commonly used in cosmetics, lubricants, textiles, and defoamers, while PMS materials are more frequently applied in sealing, electrical insulation, cooling systems, and industrial protection applications. Choosing between PDMS and PMS depends on the required viscosity, thermal resistance, reactivity, and end-use environment.

Industrial Uses of Silicone Oil

Silicone oil plays an important role in many industrial sectors because of its excellent heat resistance, lubrication performance, and chemical stability. In manufacturing processes, silicone oil is commonly used as a lubricant, release agent, and heat transfer fluid to improve operational efficiency and equipment durability.

In the textile industry, silicone fluids are widely used for fabric finishing and softening treatments. In electronics and electrical equipment, silicone oil functions as an insulating and cooling medium due to its stable dielectric properties and resistance to temperature fluctuations.

Chemical processing plants often use silicone oil in antifoaming systems and high-temperature applications. In automotive and mechanical industries, it is applied in damping devices, hydraulic systems, and specialty lubricants. Silicone oil is also widely used in construction materials, coatings, and industrial maintenance products, making it an essential material in modern industrial production.

2026-4-27 NEWS

Domestic dimethyl silicone oil prices remained generally stable, supported by tight supply and firm costs of key raw materials such as DMC and MM. Although downstream demand softened slightly, most manufacturers still hold pending orders, keeping shipment pressure limited.

Market participants expect domestic silicone oil prices to remain stable in the short term. Meanwhile, the planned restart of Zhangjiagang facilities may gradually ease supply tightness. However, rising production costs and mixed trader inventories continue to influence market sentiment.

Overall, the market remains balanced, with bulk silicone oil prices expected to stay stable with a slightly weaker trend.

2026-4 NEWS

In April, China’s domestic dimethyl silicone oil market continued to rise, supported by increasing raw material costs and tight supply conditions. Limited circulation of key raw materials such as DMC, along with higher silicone ether prices caused by tight upstream supply, significantly increased production costs for domestic silicone oil manufacturers.

Demand remained relatively stable, with many producers mainly fulfilling previous orders, keeping shipment pressure limited. Meanwhile, the widening price gap between imported and domestic silicone oil provided additional support for local products and improved the competitiveness of domestic supply.

Imported brand bulk prices initially moved higher due to tight spot availability, but later softened as downstream buyers showed stronger resistance to high prices and market supply expectations gradually improved.

Looking ahead, strong cost support is expected to continue in the near term. Domestic silicone oil prices are likely to remain firm, while imported brand prices may fluctuate under mixed market sentiment and changing supply conditions.