1. Current status of development: diversified application scenarios, technology-driven industrial upgrading
At present, silicone oil, as a high-performance silicone material, has penetrated into core areas such as industry, medical care, and daily chemicals. In 2023, the global silicone market size will reach US$20.21 billion, of which silicone oil, as the second largest product category, accounts for 28.3%. In the industrial field, silicone oil has become a key material in the electronics, electrical, and automotive manufacturing industries due to its high temperature resistance and insulation properties. For example, in the thermal management of new energy vehicle batteries, modified products such as phenyl silicone oil can withstand high temperatures above 300°C; in medical devices, medical silicone oil is used for implant lubrication and drug isolation due to its biological inertness.

The daily chemical field is an important growth point for silicone oil consumption. Methyl silicone oil is widely used in cosmetics, skin care products, and cleaning products due to its low surface tension, which can improve skin feel and enhance product ductility. In 2023, the textile, daily chemical, and chemical industries will occupy the top three silicone oil consumption in China, accounting for 30.4%, 22.5%, and 21% respectively. In addition, environmental regulations promote the green transformation of the industry. Enterprises regulate the performance of silicone oil through external stimuli such as light and heat, and develop environmentally friendly products that can be naturally decomposed.

2. Outlook: Emerging demands drive technological breakthroughs, and sustainable development becomes the core direction
The silicone oil market will show three major trends in the future:
Explosive growth in emerging fields:
With the increase in the global penetration rate of electric vehicles, the demand for silicone oil in battery thermal management fluids, motor insulation lubricants and other fields will continue to surge; the demand for high-purity electronic-grade silicone oil in high-tech fields such as 5G base station heat dissipation materials and semiconductor packaging has also increased significantly.
High performance and functional upgrades:
Enterprises use modification technology to give silicone oil targeted drug carriers, smart materials and other properties. For example, the application of cyclopentasiloxane in skin care products has expanded, and nano-composite silicone oil has shown potential in the aviation field.
Environmental protection and sustainable development:
The industry will focus on bio-based raw material substitution, carbon capture technology application and other directions. The EU REACH regulations and the global carbon neutrality goal force companies to use vegetable oil or biomethanol as raw materials, reduce chloromethane emissions, and develop degradable silicone oil products.

As a major silicone oil producer and consumer in the world, China needs to increase the proportion of high-end products through technological innovation and industrial chain integration in the future to meet the global market demand for high-performance and environmentally friendly silicone oils.