Silicone emulsion (silicone emulsion for short) is an emulsion composed of oil-in-water silicone oil, water and surfactants.
Silicone emulsions are mainly used as a soft finishing agent for silicone oil fabrics. The first generation of silicone fabric finishes were mechanical mixtures of dimethicone and hydrosilicone fluids (and their derivatives). The second-generation silicone fabric finishing agent is a hydroxy-terminated dimethicone emulsion, which is made of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane monomer, water, emulsifier, catalyst and other raw materials under certain conditions for emulsion polymerization. Because polymerization and emulsification are completed in one step, it has the advantages of short working hours, high work efficiency, simple equipment, convenient operation, etc., and the obtained emulsion is very stable, the particles are very uniform, and the prepared polymer with active groups (hydroxyl groups) at both ends can be further reacted to form a film, which is conducive to improving the application effect of emulsion, which is beyond the reach of mechanical emulsified silicone oil.
The role of silicone oil emulsions
Silicone oil emulsions are a commonly used chemical product with a variety of functions and applications. The following are the main functions of silicone oil emulsions:
1. Lubricant: Silicone oil emulsion can form a lubricating film on the friction surface, reduce friction and wear, and improve the work efficiency and life of mechanical equipment.
2. Anti-adhesive: Silicone oil emulsion can reduce the adhesion of the material surface, prevent materials, particles or adhesives from adhering to equipment or tools, and facilitate subsequent processing.
3. Preservatives: Silicone oil emulsion can form a protective film to prevent oxidation and corrosion of metal surfaces and prolong the service life of equipment and parts.
4. Insulating agent: Silicone oil emulsion has good insulation properties and can be used in electronic equipment, wires and cables, insulating materials and other fields to prevent current leakage and failure.
5. Skin care products: Silicone oil emulsion is widely used in skin care products, it can form a protective film to keep the skin moist and smooth, and prevent water evaporation and external irritation.
6. Surface treatment agent: Silicone oil emulsion can be used for surface treatment, providing a smooth and bright appearance, increasing the gloss and visual effect of the material.
The principle of disilicone oil emulsion
The principle of silicone oil emulsion is based on emulsification technology, which combines silicone oil with a suitable emulsifier so that it can miscible with water and form an emulsion. The following are the principle steps of silicone oil emulsions:
1. Emulsifier selection: Choosing the right emulsifier is a key step. Common emulsifiers include surfactants, surfactants, or colloidal substances, which have hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties that reduce the surface tension between liquids and facilitate the emulsification process.
2. Preparation of emulsion: Silicone oil and emulsifier are mixed in a certain proportion and emulsified by mechanical stirring or ultrasonic treatment, so that the silicone oil is finely dispersed in the aqueous phase to form an emulsion.
3. Stabilize the emulsion: The function of the emulsifier is to reduce the surface tension between the liquids and avoid the aggregation and separation of droplets. During the emulsification process, the concentration of the emulsifier and the emulsification time should be controlled to obtain a stable emulsion liquid.
4. Application emulsion: Stable silicone oil emulsion can be directly applied to fields that require lubrication, anti-adhesion, anti-corrosion, etc. Depending on the specific needs, different emulsion formulations and concentrations can be selected.
