Vinyl Terminated Silicone Fluid

Vinyl terminated fluid is emerging as a transformative additive in textile and leather manufacturing, offering a unique combination of processing enhancement and performance optimization. This reactive silicone fluid leverages its terminal vinyl groups to create durable molecular bridges with fibers and leather substrates, delivering lasting functional benefits while maintaining material integrity.

With typical dosage levels of 0.3-0.8%, vinyl silicone oil demonstrates remarkable cost-effectiveness while meeting rigorous industry standards including OEKO-TEX and REACH certifications. Its thermal stability up to 200°C ensures consistent performance across various processing conditions, from high-temperature dyeing to finishing operations. By delivering multifunctional benefits through a single additive solution, vinyl silicone oil enables manufacturers to streamline their production processes while achieving superior end-product quality that meets evolving market demands for sustainable and high-performance materials.

Basic Product Information

• Product Name: Vinyl Terminated Fluid
• Appearance: Colorless Transparent Liquid

TYPICAL PROPERTIES

Physical Properties

• Form & Appearance:Colorless to pale yellow transparent oily liquid with excellent fluidity.
• Viscosity Range:50–10,000 cSt (Customizable upon request).
• Solubility:Soluble in organic solvents (e.g., toluene, xylene); water-soluble modified grades available.
• Surface Tension:20–25 mN/m, ensures excellent spreading performance.
• Thermal Stability:Stable across -40°C to 250°C.
• Volatility:Ultra-low volatility (<0.5% weight loss at 150°C×24h).

Chemical Properties

• Reactivity:Reactive vinyl groups enable participation in various chemical reactions (e.g., addition curing, cross-linking).
• Compatibility:Compatible with silicones, polyurethanes, and other materials.
• Weather Resistance:UV-resistant and oxidation-resistant, no yellowing during prolonged use.
• Eco-Friendliness:Complies with OEKO-TEX® standards; free of APEO and other hazardous substances.
• Stability:Resistant to acids and alkalis (stable in pH 2–12 environments).

Product Functions

• Enhanced Softness & Handfeel

Penetrates fiber interiors to reduce inter-fiber friction, creating smooth, soft, and elastic fabrics for superior comfort.

Increases crease recovery angle by 20–30%, maintaining garment flatness.

• Water/Oil Repellency

Forms a low-surface-energy protective film on fabric surfaces, achieving ≥110° contact angle for water/oil.

Passes ISO 4920 spray test (80+ rating), blocking stain penetration.

• Wrinkle Resistance

Boosts fiber flexibility and recovery, reducing wrinkles by 30–50% (AATCC 128).

Maintains >150° crease recovery angle (vs. untreated fabrics: 90–120°).

• Dyeing Optimization

Improves dye dispersion uniformity (ΔE <1.5 after washing) and color fastness (4–5 grade per ISO 105-C06).

Enhances dye-fiber bonding strength, reducing fading by ≥40%.

• Fabric Reinforcement

Fills fiber gaps, increasing tensile strength by 15–25% (ASTM D5034) and abrasion resistance (Martindale ≥20,000 cycles).

• Leather Softening & Fullness

Penetrates leather fibers to reduce stiffness, improving softness by 30% (ISO 17235) and fullness (thickness increase: 0.1–0.3 mm).

• Leather Waterproofing

Creates a waterproof yet breathable membrane (>10,000 mm H₂O hydrostatic pressure, ISO 811) without compromising breathability (MVTR >5,000 g/m²/24h).

• Leather Finishing Enhancement

Enhances coating adhesion (cross-cut test: Grade 0) and leveling for gloss ≥80 GU (60° gloss meter).

• Leather Stability

Participates in fiber crosslinking, improving weather resistance (QUV 1000h ΔE <2.0) and chemical resistance (10% HCl/NaOH, 48h).

Applications

Textile Industry

• Natural Fibers
• Cotton Fibers:Enhances softness, water resistance, and dyeing uniformity for comfortable, easy-care, and vibrant-colored garments.
• Linen Fibers:Reduces roughness and improves wrinkle resistance, preserving natural texture while boosting wearability.
• Silk Fibers:Elevates luster and handfeel, delivering smoother textures and luxurious aesthetics.
• Wool Fibers:Improves anti-felting properties and softness, enhancing warmth retention and post-wash shape stability.
• Synthetic Fibers
• Polyester Fibers:Upgrades anti-static performance and softness, reducing static cling for enhanced comfort.
• Nylon Fibers:Boosts abrasion resistance and dye uptake, extending lifespan and ensuring vivid, long-lasting colors.
• Acrylic Fibers:Mimics natural fiber handfeel while reducing pilling, improving product quality.
• Blended Fibers (e.g., Poly-Cotton, Wool-Polyester):Combines advantages of natural and synthetic fibers, optimizing softness, strength, and dyeability.

Leather Industry

• Natural Leather
• Shoe Upper Leather:Enhances softness, water resistance, and gloss for durable, stain-resistant, and visually appealing footwear.
• Apparel Leather:Improves fit and tactile comfort for leather garments, offering a refined texture and aesthetic.
• Upholstery Leather:Increases plushness and durability for sofas, ensuring long-term comfort and resistance to wear.
• Artificial Leather

Bridges gaps in softness and breathability vs. natural leather, expanding applications for synthetic leather products to meet diverse market demands.

Core Advantages

Market Value

Market Drivers

• Rising Functional Demands
• Softness & Smoothness: Vinyl silicone oil imparts exceptional tactile comfort to textiles/leather, elevating premium product value.
• Wash Durability: Forms stable films via crosslinking (e.g., with hydrosilicone oils), outperforming traditional silicones in water/dry cleaning resistance.
• Low Yellowing & High Transparency: Ideal for light-colored or high-gloss fabrics, meeting luxury apparel and leather standards.
• Environmental Regulations
• Eco-Friendly Alternatives: Replaces amine-containing silicones (VOC emitters) to comply with EU REACH, OEKO-TEX®, and ZDHC guidelines.
• Solvent-Free Solutions: Waterborne vinyl silicone emulsions gain traction in leather finishing, reducing VOCs by 30–50%.
• Premium Market Growth

Luxury leather (e.g., car seats, designer handbags) and functional textiles (e.g., sportswear, medical PPE) drive demand for high-performance silicones.

Market Size & Growth Trends

• Textile Industry
• Global textile chemicals market: ~USD 25 billion (2023), with silicone softeners capturing 15–20% share.
• China’s vinyl silicone oil demand: Growing at 8–10% CAGR (vs. 5–6% for conventional amino silicones), driven by premium textile exports.
• Leather Industry
• Global leather chemicals market: ~USD 8 billion, silicone-based aids accounting for 10–15%.
• Key growth segments: Automotive leather (abrasion/heat resistance) and luxury leather (tactile optimization), growing at 7–9% CAGR.

Future Trends & Challenges

• Growth Opportunities
• Bio-based Vinyl Silicones: Derived from renewable feedstocks (e.g., bio-methanol) for sustainability compliance.
• Smart Textiles Integration: Hybrids with conductive polymers for flexible sensors or temperature-regulating fibers.
• Key Challenges
• Cost Pressures: Dependency on imported platinum catalysts and volatile DMC prices squeeze margins.
• Technology Substitution Risks: Competition from novel polyether-modified silicones.

Conclusion

• Market value of vinyl silicone oil stems from:
• Premiumization: Luxury leather, automotive interiors, and functional textiles driving high-margin growth.
• Regulatory Shifts: Phasing out traditional silicones under tightening environmental laws.
• Technical Barriers: Companies with proprietary synthesis/modification tech command pricing power.
• Future Outlook:

Customized, eco-friendly, high-performance formulations will dominate.

Chinese firms mastering high-end production tech (e.g., UV-curable grades) could capture 15–20% global market share by 2030.

Experimental Data & Case Studies

Experimental Data

Case Studies

• Premium Cashmere Softening Treatment
• Issue: Traditional softeners reduced cashmere fiber strength.
• Solution: 0.8% vinyl silicone oil emulsion treatment.
• Result: 55% increase in softness with 95% strength retention.
• Sportswear Quick-Dry Fabric Finishing
• Requirement: Balance softness with rapid moisture-wicking.
• Solution: Multi-component vinyl silicone oil formulation.
• Result: 40% faster drying time and 30% higher handfeel score.
• Automotive Leather Interior Coating
• Challenge: Simultaneous demands for abrasion resistance, stain resistance, and weather durability.
• Solution: Multifunctional vinyl silicone oil coating system.
• Result: Abrasion resistance increased to 50,000 cycles; stain resistance Grade 4 (ISO 15700).

Preparation Process, Core Technologies & Precautions

Preparation Process

• Basic Synthesis of Vinyl Silicone Oil
• Raw Material Selection

Main Monomers:

Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) or D4/D5 blends – Provide the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) backbone.

Vinyl End-Capper: Tetramethyldivinyldisiloxane (Vi-MVi) to introduce terminal vinyl groups.

Side-Chain Vinyl Monomers (optional): Methylvinylcyclosiloxanes (ViD3/ViD4) for additional crosslinking sites.

Catalysts:

Alkaline Catalysis (Mainstream): Tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) for narrow molecular weight distribution (PDI <1.2).

Acidic Catalysis (Cost-Effective): Sulfuric acid or solid acids, but requires post-reaction purification.

• Polymerization Reaction

Mechanism:

D4/D5 undergo ring-opening polymerization under catalysis, reacting with Vi-MVi to form vinyl-terminated PDMS.

Process Parameters:

Temperature: 80–120°C (alkaline) or ambient–60°C (acidic).

Time: 2–6 hours (depending on target molecular weight).

Vacuum Dehydration: Removes low-boiling byproducts (e.g., water, cyclic siloxanes).

• Catalyst Removal & Purification

Neutralization:

Alkaline catalysts neutralized with phosphoric acid or CO₂; acidic catalysts with sodium carbonate.

Thermal Decomposition:

TMAH decomposes into trimethylamine and methanol at 180°C under vacuum.

Filtration/Adsorption:

Remove residual metal ions using activated carbon or molecular sieves (critical for high-end applications).

• Molecular Weight Control

Low MW (500–5,000 cSt): Higher Vi-MVi ratios for lightweight fabric finishing.

High MW (10,000–50,000 cSt): Reduced end-capper for leather coatings (superior film-forming).

Core Technologies

• Modification Process of Textile/Leather-Specific Vinyl Silicone Oil
• Emulsification (Aqueous System)

The textile and leather industries predominantly use aqueous emulsions to reduce VOCs. Preparation methods include:

Phase Inversion Emulsification:

Vinyl silicone oil + emulsifiers (e.g., Span-80/Tween-80) → gradual water addition for phase inversion → homogenized emulsification (particle size <100 nm).

Microemulsification:

High-HLB emulsifiers (e.g., AEO-9) + cosolvents (e.g., isopropyl alcohol) → transparent microemulsion (enhanced stability).

• Crosslinking System Optimization (For Durable Finishing)

Platinum-Catalyzed Addition:

Vinyl silicone oil + hydrogen-containing silicone oil (Si-H) → Si-CH₂-CH₂-Si crosslinked network (excellent wash resistance).

Peroxide Vulcanization:

Used for thick-coated leather (e.g., automotive seats) to improve heat resistance.

Special Process Requirements for Textile and Leather Applications

• Textile Finishing Processes

Padding Method:

Dilute emulsion → pad fabric → dry (120–150°C) → cure (160–180°C, promotes crosslinking).

Foam Finishing:

Low-liquor process to save chemicals (ideal for knitted fabrics).

• Leather Coating Processes

Base Layer Treatment:

Vinyl silicone oil + polyurethane blend → enhances leather softness.

Top Gloss Layer:

High vinyl-content silicone oil (1.0%–1.5%) + nano-SiO₂ → improves abrasion resistance.

Precautions

• Storage: Store in a sealed container at 5–30°C; avoid freezing.
• Shelf Life: 12 months unopened in original packaging.
• Safety: Wear protective gloves and goggles during handling.
• Compatibility: Avoid direct mixing with cationic auxiliaries.

Packaging & Ordering

Packaging: 200kg/1000kg plastic drums (customizable).