I. The embryonic stage: technology introduction and basic exploration in the 1950s-1970s
The application of silicone softener in China's textile industry began in the 1950s. At that time, the international textile industry had begun to explore the waterproof properties of silicone materials. In 1945, General Electric Company of the United States achieved fabric waterproofing through sodium methylsiliconate alkaline solution, and Dow Corning Company discovered in the early 1950s that hydrogenated silicone oil can give fabrics waterproofness and breathability. Influenced by international technological trends, China's textile industry began to contact silicone materials in the late 1950s, but the initial application was concentrated in basic fields such as yarn lubrication and chemical fiber spinning oil, and a systematic softening finishing technology had not yet been formed.

In the 1970s, with the breakthrough of international polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) modification technology, China's textile industry began to try to use silicone for fabric finishing. After the reform and opening up in 1978, domestic textile enterprises gradually mastered the preparation process of silicone emulsion through technology introduction and joint venture cooperation. However, at this time, the products were still mainly first-generation inactive silicone oils, which had defects such as poor washability and stiff feel, and were mainly used in low-value-added textiles.

2. Development period: Modification technology breakthroughs and industrialization in the 1980s and 1990s
In the 1980s, China's textile industry ushered in technological innovations in silicone softeners. Inspired by the international second-generation active silicone oil technology (such as hydroxy silicone oil and hydrogen-containing silicone oil), domestic research institutions and enterprises developed active silicone oil emulsions with cross-linked structures through emulsion polymerization technology, which significantly improved the washability and softness of fabrics. For example, the Shanghai Textile Science Research Institute successfully developed hydroxy silicone oil emulsion in 1985, which kept cotton fabrics soft after 5 washes.

In the 1990s, with the rise of the third-generation modified silicone oil (such as amino silicone oil and polyether modified silicone oil), China's textile industry achieved a leap from "single function" to "multi-complex". In 1995, Zhejiang Chuanhua Group introduced the German amino silicone oil production technology and launched the first commercial amino silicone oil softener in China, making the feel of polyester fabrics close to natural silk. At the same time, Guangdong Demei Chemical developed polyether modified silicone oil, which solved the "water repellent" problem of traditional silicone oil by introducing hydrophilic groups, and promoted the popularization of silicone softeners in sportswear, home textiles and other fields.

3. Maturity: Innovation-driven and green transformation in the 21st century
In the 21st century, China's textile industry silicone softener technology entered the stage of independent innovation. Around 2010, the fourth-generation block copolymer silicone oil (such as amino polyether block silicone oil) achieved a breakthrough in localization. Through molecular design, amino, polyether and epoxy groups are integrated into the same molecular chain, combining softness, hydrophilicity and washability. For example, the "Blue Crystal" series of block silicone oils launched by Hangzhou Chuanhua Chemical in 2015 can keep denim fabrics more than 85% of their initial softness after 20 washes, reaching the international advanced level.

In recent years, with the proposal of the "dual carbon" goal, China's textile industry has accelerated its transformation to green. In 2023, Qingdao Zhongbao Silicon Material Technology Co., Ltd. developed a solvent-free block silicone oil synthesis technology to reduce volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions by 90%; in 2024, Zhongshan Zhongyue Textile Auxiliary Agents launched bio-based amino silicone oil, the renewable carbon content of which reached 60%, marking that China's silicone softener technology has entered a new stage of sustainable development.