PURPOSE: To industrially produce truly spherical fine silicone particles at a low cost by adding a methyltrialkoxysilane (a partial hydrolysate condensate) into an alkaline aqueous solution under specific conditions and advancing the hydrolysis and condensation.
CONSTITUTION: (A) A methyltrialkoxysilane (preferably methyltrimethoxysilane) or its hydrolyzate condensate or both are added into (B) an alkaline aqueous solution at pH10-13 (e.g. caustic soda or ammonia) so as to satisfy 0.01≤V1/V2≤0.1 and [V/(V1+V2)]>0.4 [V1 is the amount of added component (A) (kg); V2 is the amount of added component (B) (kg); V is the addition rate of the component (A) (kg/hr)] for 1-10min while being stirred (pH10-13 after the mixing). Thereby, the hydrolysis and condensation are advanced to produce the objective truly spherical silicone fine particles having ≤ l. 1 ratio of the major axis/minor axis, 0.1-2μm average particle diameter and 10% coefficient of variation according to simple operation in a short time. The resultant truly spherical fine silicone particles are effective in improving water repellency, heat resistance and slippery characteristic by addition thereof to cosmetics, coatings, adhesives, etc.
WATANABE TETSUYA