Application and Market Situation of Organic Silicon as a New Functional Material

Due to its unique structure, organic silicon has the properties of both inorganic and organic materials. It has the basic properties of low surface tension, low viscosity temperature coefficient, high compressibility, high gas permeability, and has excellent characteristics such as high and low temperature resistance, electrical insulation, oxidation resistance, weather resistance, flame retardancy, hydrophobicity, corrosion resistance, non-toxic and tasteless, and physiological inertia. It is widely used in aerospace, electronics, electrical, construction, transportation, chemical In textile, food, light industry, medical and other industries, organic silicon is mainly used for sealing, bonding, lubrication, coating, surface activity, demoulding, defoaming, foam suppression, waterproof, moisture-proof, inert filling, etc. With the continuous growth of the quantity and varieties of organic silicon, the application fields are constantly expanding, forming a unique important product system in the field of new chemical materials. Many varieties are indispensable and irreplaceable by other chemicals.

Among the four categories of silicone deep processing products, silicone rubber has the largest output, accounting for 60~70% of the composition of silicone products. Silicone rubber can be divided into high-temperature silicone rubber and room temperature silicone rubber according to its curing temperature. Among them, the output of high-temperature silicone rubber accounts for 20~25% of the organic silicon products. High temperature silicone rubber refers to silicone rubber that can be molded at a high temperature (130~170 ℃) and in the presence of vulcanizing agent peroxide.

China's high-temperature silicone rubber products are mainly used in buttons, electronic and electrical insulators, wires and cables, etc. With the development of the national economy, China's demand for high-temperature silicone rubber will maintain an annual growth rate of more than 15%.

Demand of main downstream industries:

1. Key

In 2006, about 70000 tons of high-temperature silicone rubber were consumed in the field of keys, accounting for 53.8% of the total consumption of high-temperature silicone rubber in China. The average annual consumption from 2002 to 2006 increased by 18.5%. It is estimated that the growth rate will remain above 15% from 2006 to 2011.

2. Insulators for electronic appliances

High temperature silicone rubber insulator is the third generation product replacing porcelain insulator, which can be used in harsh climatic environment. In 2006, this field consumed 20000 tons of high temperature silicone rubber, which is in a rapid development stage. It is estimated that by 2011, silicon insulator products for electronic and electrical appliances can consume more than 40000 tons of high temperature silicone rubber.

3. Wire and cable

Wire and cable accessories are necessary devices for connecting the cable body and connecting the cable with overhead transmission lines and equipment in each substation to realize power transmission. The product quality of cable accessories made of high-temperature silicone rubber is greatly improved compared with that of heat shrinkable cable accessories. At the same time, it has the advantages of strong anti tracking ability, wide temperature range, radiation resistance and high hydrophobicity. In 2006, 10000 tons of high-temperature silicone rubber were consumed in this field, and it is estimated that 20000 tons of high-temperature silicone rubber will be consumed in the wire and cable field by 2011.

4. Others

In the civil sector, automobile sealant, nursing bottle nipple, hot water bottle stopper, pressure cooker gasket and food vending machine hose made of high-temperature silicone rubber have been widely used; High temperature silicone rubber products have also been widely used in some medical fields, such as noise proof earplugs, fetal head aspirators, tympanic membrane patches, etc. The consumption of high-temperature silicone rubber in these fields was about 30000 tons in 2006, and it is estimated that the consumption will reach 62000 tons by 2011.

In recent years, the production capacity and output of high-temperature silicone rubber market have grown rapidly. From 1995 to 2006, the domestic production capacity increased by 25.7% and the output increased by 26.7% annually. By the end of 2006, China's total production capacity of high-temperature silicone rubber had reached 140000 tons, and the total output had reached 120000 tons. Due to the strong downstream demand, the high-temperature silicone rubber industry has maintained a high production and sales rate. While the production capacity and output increased, the total consumption amount of the industry also increased rapidly. In 2006, the total consumption of high-temperature silicone rubber reached 130000 tons.

At present, although the total production capacity of high-temperature silicone rubber in China has reached 140000 tons, the manufacturers are generally small, the output is mostly less than 1000 tons, and the quality is unstable. High performance products are scarce. In 2006, there were only two high-temperature silicone rubber manufacturers in China, namely our company and Dongjue Chemical, with an annual output of more than 10000 tons; The other enterprises with 5000 tons of output are Shenzhen GM and Shenzhen Tianyu; The output of the top 10 enterprises in the industry calculated by output accounts for about 55% of the total output of the industry.

In 2006, China's demand for high-performance high-temperature silicone rubber products was about 50000 tons, most of which needed to be imported. According to the prediction of China Chemical Industry Information Center, the demand for high-temperature silicone rubber in China will reach 255000 tons by 2011, and the market supply and demand gap will reach 65000 tons (calculated by the difference between output and demand). If the product structure is considered, the actual gap may reach 100000 tons.