National Strategy: China's "Sky Dome" Project Accelerates Domestic Fluorosilicone Rubber Development

At the "2026 National Extreme Environment Materials Strategy Conference" held in Beijing in April 2026, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, in collaboration with multiple top research institutions, officially released the "China Extreme Environment Specialty Rubber Technology Development White Paper (2026 Edition)," code-named the "Sky Dome Project" . The white paper comprehensively discloses China's latest breakthroughs in fluorosilicone rubber (FVMQ) and phenyl silicone rubber, marking China's establishment of a global leadership position in ultra-high temperature, ultra-low temperature, and high-radiation resistant materials .

Core Technical Indicators Achieve International Leadership

According to white paper data, next-generation domestic addition-cure fluorosilicone liquid rubber has successfully passed extreme temperature cycling tests from -70°C to 280°C, with volume swell in jet fuel and advanced synthetic lubricants controlled below 1%—far exceeding international standards . This performance breakthrough indicates that domestic fluorosilicone rubber has surpassed international counterparts in core metrics such as wide-temperature-range stability and fluid swell resistance.

Additionally, the "Deep Space Shield" elastomeric compound developed from fluorosilicone rubber technology demonstrated insulation performance degradation of less than 0.5% under high-energy particle bombardment simulating Jupiter's radiation belt, providing critical protection for the upcoming "Jupiter System Probe" mission . This marks the expansion of fluorosilicone rubber applications from traditional "industrial sealing" to the highest technical barrier domain of "deep space exploration protection."

Building a Complete Independent Industrial Chain

An official from MIIT noted that the "Sky Dome Project" has not only resolved long-standing "bottleneck" material challenges constraining China's aerospace, nuclear energy, and deep-sea equipment development but has also established a complete independent industrial chain covering basic monomer synthesis, functional fluorosilicone oil modification, and finished product manufacturing . Historically, the core production technology for high-end fluorosilicone rubber was concentrated among a few overseas chemical giants, with domestic capabilities lacking in areas such as specialty monomer synthesis and precise molecular structure control. With the advancement of the "Sky Dome Project," this situation is fundamentally changing.

Academic-Industrial Collaboration Accelerates Technology Commercialization

Concurrently, academic research and industrial application in China's fluorosilicone rubber sector are forming a positive feedback loop. Research published by scholars from the National Silicone Engineering Technology Research Center indicates that increasing the vinyl content and molecular weight of fluorosilicone base polymers significantly improves thermal stability, while the addition of silane coupling agents also contributes positively . The research further shows that metal oxide heat stabilizers, particularly CeO₂ and TiO₂ combinations, have a pronounced effect on enhancing fluorosilicone rubber thermal stability . Regarding formulation design, researchers found that using γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (KH550) as a coupling agent significantly improves tensile strength, elongation at break, hardness, and tear strength while substantially reducing compression set .

In the patent domain, a patent titled "A Corrosion-Resistant Rubber Composite Material and Its Preparation Method and Application" was granted in February 2026. The patent involves grafting fluorosilicone nano-filler modifiers onto nano-alumina surfaces to produce modified nano-alumina, which is then compounded and vulcanized with fluorosilicone base polymer to produce a rubber composite with excellent mechanical properties and corrosion resistance .

With comprehensive promotion of the "Sky Dome Project," it is expected to drive over 20 billion Yuan in growth in related high-end equipment manufacturing output value in 2026, marking a decisive step in China's transformation from a "major materials country" to a "strong materials country" . Fluorosilicone rubber, long serving as a "niche" material in aerospace and defense applications, is becoming a crucial strategic pillar for self-sufficiency in China's high-end manufacturing sector.