Your formula is locked, the purchase order is approved, and the one thing standing between you and a production run is the silicone. Then the quote comes back with a lead time measured in months, because the material ships from overseas, clears customs, and waits in a queue before it reaches your dock. For a buyer running to a schedule, a silicone fluid or emulsion sitting on a container mid-ocean is not a line item; it is a bottleneck. Sourcing the same grade from domestic stock takes the import wait out of the equation.
The short version: RawSource supplies the full silicone range from domestic US stock: PDMS fluids by viscosity, volatile silicones, personal-care silicones, emulsions, defoamers, super-wetters, resins, and silicone rubber feedstocks, all in bulk (drums to IBCs) with a Certificate of Analysis (CoA) on every lot. Because the material is held in US inventory, lead times are short and supply is predictable. Send the INCI or CAS, the viscosity or grade, and the volume, and you get a quote against stock instead of a multi-month import timeline.
Why domestic silicone stock shortens your lead time
The advantage of a domestic silicone supplier is simple and measurable: availability. When a grade is already held in US stock, your lead time is set by packaging and freight, while an overseas order stacks a production slot, an ocean crossing, and customs clearance on top of that. That is the difference between planning a run in days and planning it in months. RawSource positions its silicone range this way on purpose: the catalog below is stocked domestically and ships from the US, so a procurement team can treat silicone as an on-hand input.
The honest trade-off: domestic stock covers the standard, high-demand grades and viscosities. A fully custom polymer (an unusual functionalization, a non-standard viscosity, or a bespoke emulsion solids level) may still carry a longer qualification and supply window. Tell us the spec up front and we will tell you whether it ships from stock or needs a sourcing lead time before you commit.
Silicone fluids and PDMS, by viscosity
The core of any silicone portfolio is polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), the linear silicone polymer sold as a clear fluid and known by the INCI name dimethicone. The single most important spec a buyer gives is viscosity, quoted in centistokes (cSt), which spans from ultra-low volatile grades around 0.65 cSt, through the mobile 5–50 cSt and medium 100–1,000 cSt fluids, up to near-gum grades at 500,000 cSt. Viscosity drives most of what happens downstream: spreadability, film thickness, lubricity, and damping behavior.
RawSource stocks the base fluids, dimethicone and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) fluid, plus a full viscosity ladder:
| Viscosity grade | Character | Typical formulation / process role |
|---|---|---|
| 0.65 cSt | Volatile, ultra-low (hexamethyldisiloxane, MM) | Fast-flashing carrier and cleaning fluid, dry feel |
| 1.0 cSt | Volatile, ultra-low (octamethyltrisiloxane, MDM) | Volatile carrier, quick spread and dry-down |
| 1.5 cSt | Ultra-low, fast-spreading | Fast carrier/diluent, low-temp dielectric/heat-transfer, anti-spatter, antifoam base |
| 2 cSt | Ultra-low, very light | Carrier/diluent, low-temp dielectric/heat-transfer, anti-spatter, antifoam base |
| 5 cSt | Very low, mobile | Light spreading, anti-spatter, carrier, dielectric |
| 10 cSt | Low, mobile | Lubrication, mold release, polishes |
| 50 cSt | Low to medium | Release, lubrication, dielectric fluids |
| 100 cSt | Mobile fluid | Spreading, carrier fluids, light lubrication |
| 350 cSt | Medium fluid | General-purpose lubrication, release, polishes |
| 1,000 cSt | Higher-viscosity fluid | Release agents, damping, mechanical fluids |
| 10,000 cSt | Heavy fluid | Damping, anti-vibration, additive base |
| 12,500 cSt | Heavy fluid | Damping, anti-vibration, specialty lubrication |
| 60,000 cSt | Very heavy fluid | Damping, vibration control, additive base |
| 100,000 cSt | Very heavy fluid | High damping, specialty compounding |
| 500,000 cSt | Near-gum, very high viscosity | High-damping and specialty compounding |
Match the cSt grade to the job rather than defaulting to a familiar number. A low-viscosity fluid spreads and wets but offers little damping, while a high-viscosity fluid damps and builds film but is harder to pump and meter. If you are not sure which grade your process needs, our silicone oil viscosity guide to cSt grades walks through the selection, and what polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is covers the chemistry. For the lubrication, release, and damping work these fluids do, see silicone oil industrial uses. Confirm the grade for your application against the CoA.
Volatile silicones
Volatile silicones flash off after application instead of leaving a permanent film, which makes them carrier and delivery fluids in many personal-care and cleaning formulations. RawSource stocks cyclopentasiloxane (the cyclic D5 silicone) and hexamethyldisiloxane (a short, low-boiling linear siloxane). The trade-off against a non-volatile PDMS fluid is exactly that volatility: you get easy spread and a dry-down with no residual oily film, but no lasting lubrication or damping. For formulation context, see our guide to cyclopentasiloxane in skin-care formulation. Confirm the grade and specification for your application.
Personal-care silicones
Beyond the base fluids, formulators specify a range of INCI-named silicones for feel, spread, and film characteristics in hair and skin care. RawSource stocks:
- Phenyl trimethicone, a phenyl-substituted silicone with a higher refractive index and a different solubility profile
- Amodimethicone, an amino-functional silicone used in hair-care formulations
- PEG-12 dimethicone, a water-dispersible (PEG-modified) silicone
- Cetyl methicone, an alkyl-modified silicone
- Dimethicone crosspolymer, a crosslinked silicone used as a gellant and texture modifier
- Trimethylsiloxysilicate (MQ resin), a silicone resin used for film formation
A practical selection note: PEG-modified grades disperse in water-based systems where a neat dimethicone fluid would separate, so the chassis you are formulating, not just the silicone, drives the choice. For deeper references, see our guides on dimethicone in hair-care conditioners and serums, phenyl trimethicone uses and solubility in cosmetics, and PEG-12 dimethicone INCI structure and uses. These are functional descriptions for formulators; confirm INCI, grade, and suitability for your finished product.
Silicone emulsions, defoamers, and antifoams
Not every application wants neat silicone. Many water-based processes need silicone delivered as an emulsion, and many need active foam control. RawSource stocks silicone antifoam emulsion for water-based defoaming and simethicone (activated PDMS compounded with silica) as a concentrated antifoam active. The selection trade-off is real: a water-based emulsion drops in easily and disperses, but a concentrated active gives more foam knockdown per pound and may need its own dosing and dispersion strategy. Our guides cover the mechanism in how defoamers work, the specific problem of defoamers in water-based coatings and paint fisheyes, and how to choose in silicone defoamer selection. Confirm the active level and grade against the CoA for your system.
Silicone super-wetters and adjuvants
For agricultural spray adjuvants and other hard-to-wet applications, the workhorse is the organosilicone super-wetter. RawSource stocks a polyether-modified trisiloxane silicone surfactant, the trisiloxane chemistry that drives very low surface tension and rapid spreading on difficult surfaces. The trade-off to know going in is hydrolytic stability: trisiloxane super-wetters are pH-sensitive and hold up best within a defined tank-mix pH window, so confirm compatibility before you scale a formulation. For the chemistry and how it spreads, see what an organosilicone super-spreader (trisiloxane surfactant) is.
Textile silicones
Textile finishing relies on amino-functional silicones for softening and hand modification. RawSource stocks amino-functional silicone for fabric-softener and textile-finishing formulations. The trade-off with amino silicones is yellowing: higher amine content generally improves softness but raises the risk of fabric yellowing over time, so the amine number is the spec to watch and confirm. See amino silicone in textile fabric softeners for formulation context.
Silicone rubber, RTV feedstocks, and specialty fluids
For silicone rubber and RTV systems, the building block is reactive PDMS. RawSource stocks vinyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (vinyl PDMS), the vinyl-functional base polymer used in addition-cure and RTV silicone formulations, and silicone transformer oil for electrical and heat-transfer service. The grade trade-off here is molecular weight and vinyl content, which together set both the processing viscosity and the crosslink density of the cured rubber, so the feedstock spec has to match the cure system. Our guides cover what RTV silicone is, silicone rubber uses, benefits, and grades, silicone mold-release agents, and the RawSil HT-50 silicone heat-transfer fluid. Confirm the grade and specification for your cure chemistry and service temperature.
Industries served
RawSource supplies silicones across the industrial buyer base:
| Industry | What the silicone range serves |
|---|---|
| Personal care | Dimethicone, volatile silicones, and INCI-named specialties for hair and skin formulations |
| Coatings | Defoamers, slip and flow additives, and release fluids |
| Automotive and rubber | RTV feedstocks, damping fluids, and release agents |
| Textiles | Amino-functional softeners and finishing silicones |
| Agriculture | Trisiloxane super-wetters and spray adjuvants |
| Pharmaceuticals | Simethicone and antifoam grades (confirm grade and compliance for your use) |
| Construction | Sealant feedstocks and water-repellent fluids |
| Electronics | Dielectric and heat-transfer fluids |
| Industrial process | Antifoams, lubricants, mold release, and damping fluids |
Sourcing, packaging, and RFQ
RawSource supplies silicone in the packaging your process actually runs: pails and drums for smaller and pilot volumes, IBC totes for mid-volume, and bulk for high-volume programs. Every lot ships with a Certificate of Analysis (CoA) documenting the grade against its specification, and the CoA for the lot you receive governs over any typical value quoted here or on a product page.
The reason to source domestically is lead time. Because these grades are held in US stock, your timeline is driven by packaging and freight. For a fast, accurate quote, send three things:
- The INCI or CAS (for example, dimethicone / CAS 63148-62-9, or cyclopentasiloxane).
- The viscosity or grade (cSt for fluids, active level for emulsions, amine number for amino silicones, vinyl content for reactive PDMS).
- The volume and packaging (drums, IBC, or bulk) and your delivery location.
With those, we confirm stock, grade, and lead time, and quote against on-hand inventory. Request a sample to qualify the grade on your own system before you commit to a production volume.
Frequently asked questions
Who supplies silicone in bulk in the USA?
RawSource supplies silicone in bulk across the United States, stocking the full range domestically: PDMS fluids by viscosity, volatile silicones, personal-care silicones, emulsions, defoamers, super-wetters, textile silicones, resins, and silicone rubber feedstocks. Because the grades are held in US stock, orders ship without the import wait, in drums, IBC totes, or bulk, with a CoA on every lot.
What silicone grades and viscosities are available?
The fluid line runs the full viscosity ladder: ultra-low grades (0.65 cSt hexamethyldisiloxane, 1.0 cSt octamethyltrisiloxane, 1.5 cSt, and 2 cSt), the mobile 5, 10, and 50 cSt grades, the medium 100, 350, and 1,000 cSt grades, and the heavy 10,000, 12,500, 60,000, and 100,000 cSt grades up to near-gum 500,000 cSt, alongside base dimethicone and PDMS fluid. Specialty grades include volatile silicones (cyclopentasiloxane, hexamethyldisiloxane), personal-care silicones (phenyl trimethicone, amodimethicone, PEG-12 dimethicone, cetyl methicone, dimethicone crosspolymer, MQ resin), emulsions and antifoams (silicone antifoam emulsion, simethicone), trisiloxane super-wetters, amino-functional textile silicones, and vinyl-terminated PDMS for rubber. Confirm the exact grade for your application.
Can I get a Certificate of Analysis, and what specs does it cover?
Yes. Every lot ships with a Certificate of Analysis (CoA) documenting the grade against its specification. For silicone fluids that typically includes viscosity (cSt); for specialty grades it covers the relevant spec, such as active level (emulsions), amine number (amino silicones), or vinyl content (reactive PDMS). The CoA for the lot you receive is the governing document; typical values quoted elsewhere are reference only.
What is the minimum order, and how is bulk silicone packaged?
Silicone is available in pails and drums for smaller and pilot quantities, IBC totes for mid-volume, and bulk for high-volume programs. Minimum order depends on the specific grade and packaging; send your target volume and we will confirm what is available from stock and the most efficient packaging for it.
What is the lead time on silicone from domestic US stock?
Because the standard grades are held in US stock, lead time is set by packaging and freight, where an overseas order would add a production slot and ocean transit on top of that. That availability is the core advantage of sourcing domestically. Fully custom polymers or non-standard grades can carry a longer sourcing window; tell us the spec up front and we will confirm whether it ships from stock or needs lead time before you commit.
Do you supply personal-care, coatings, and defoamer silicones?
Yes. The range covers personal-care silicones (dimethicone, volatile silicones, phenyl trimethicone, amodimethicone, PEG-12 dimethicone, and more), coatings additives (defoamers, slip and flow additives, release fluids), and dedicated foam control (silicone antifoam emulsion and simethicone), along with textile, agricultural, and silicone-rubber grades. Confirm the grade and specification for your formulation.
Editorial note. This article is general technical guidance for procurement and formulation professionals sourcing silicones. Silicone grades, viscosities, and specialty specifications vary by application, and grade selection and performance must be validated on your own system; the Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for the lot you purchase governs over any typical value shown here. Review the current Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and use appropriate handling for any grade before use. Products are supplied for industrial and professional use only. Nothing here is a medical, health, cosmetic, or efficacy claim. RawSource supplies and distributes these materials and makes no warranty, express or implied, and assumes no liability for use of this information.
