Molecule Structure of New Silicone, Its Property and Expected Application

Abstract

Silicone fluids are known to have high viscosity indices, high oxidation onset temperatures, and low glass transition temperatures. Silicone characteristics make those fluids appealing for use as lubricants in extreme temperature applications, and where lubricant longevity is desired. Despite thermal and oxidative benefits, silicones lubricants have a reputation as being poor lubricants in metal-to-metal applications, and are typically only selected for use in plastic applications. Most industrial knowledge about silicone lubricants is based on characteristics of polydimethyl siloxanes, in which case, lubricity limitations do exists. However, other silicone based lubricating fluid technologies have been commercially available for decades that far exceed known lubricity performance of PDMS. Phenyl-methyl siloxanes are great low temperature lubricants, and fluoro siloxanes have increased lubricity performance over polydimethyl siloxanes, even in metal-to-metal applications. New siloxane-based materials combine thermal stability of phenyl-methyl siloxanes and lubricity of fluoro-siloxanes. This article will focus on characterization of new phenyl-fluoro siloxane copolymer fluids, development of greases based on new silicone chemistry, as well as applications.