In August 2026, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) officially released the list of selected units for the 2025 "Open Competition" program on key innovation tasks for fine chemicals. Zhejiang Xinan Chemical Industrial Group Co., Ltd. and its wholly-owned subsidiary Xinan Tianyu Organic Silicone Co., Ltd. were both selected, undertaking two key product R&D tasks: ethyl silicone rubber and high-tear-strength silicone rubber, respectively.

Ethyl Silicone Rubber: A First-Time Inclusion in a National-Level R&D Pipeline

This "Open Competition" initiative is specifically aimed at addressing critical material and core component gaps in sectors such as aerospace, new energy vehicles, rail transportation, and high-end medical devices. The inclusion of ethyl silicone rubber marks a milestone for the industry, as it is the first time this material has been featured in a national-level R&D list.

According to publicly available information, ethyl silicone rubber is irreplaceable in applications such as aviation fuel seals, cabin seals, specialty cable protection, electronic device potting, and vibration-damping components. Its glass transition temperature can reach as low as -147°C, maintaining excellent flexibility in ultra-low-temperature environments, thereby bridging the performance gap between conventional cold-resistant rubbers and the liquid-nitrogen temperature range.

For an extended period, high-end ethyl silicone rubber has relied heavily on overseas supply, with domestic engineering bottlenecks persisting in specialty monomer synthesis and precise molecular control. In this project, Xinan Chemical is taking the lead, partnering with research institutions including Shandong University and AECC Beijing Institute of Aeronautical Materials, with the goal of overcoming industry-wide challenges where traditional methyl silicone rubber struggles to balance wide-temperature elasticity, radiation resistance, and low deformation.

R&D Progress and Application Prospects

According to reports from The Paper, the project has now completed laboratory-scale trials, with core performance indicators surpassing those of mainstream overseas methyl silicone rubber products, and has demonstrated stable performance in real-world validation tests on aviation vibration-damping components. A total of six core invention patents have been filed.

Upon project completion, it is expected to fill the global gap in large-scale engineering applications of high-end ethyl silicone rubber. Beyond securing core material supply, the project will also expand into high-end emerging application scenarios such as hydrogen energy equipment seals and implantable medical elastomers, opening up entirely new growth opportunities for domestically produced specialty silicones.

Implications for Downstream Product Manufacturers

For silicone rubber product manufacturers operating in fields such as aerospace seals, specialty cables, electronic potting, and hydrogen energy equipment seals, the domestic production of ethyl silicone rubber means that more cost-effective raw material options will become available for high-end applications in the future. It is recommended that relevant companies monitor the project's R&D progress and conduct timely assessments of the feasibility of incorporating ethyl silicone rubber into their own product portfolios.

Xinan Chemical stated that it will go all out to drive breakthroughs in key technologies and the commercialization of results for both projects, continuing to deepen its presence in the high-end silicone new materials sector.

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