Silicone Resources

Injection molding vs transfer molding are two common manufacturing methods for liquid silicone rubber. In silicone parts fabrication process, we need to determine the most suitable manufacturing process, in order to balance the efficiency and quality. Both injection molding and transfer molding of liquid silicone rubber have distinct advantages and disadvantages. Before we determine which process is the best suitable for the particular LSR products, we should compare the key features and benefits of injection molding and transfer molding. Injection Molding…

Liquid silicone rubber testing is a critical element in the production process, it is the best way to assure key functionality requirement of final LSR parts. In LSR materials testing, we should analyze and verify the key properties of LSR raw materials. There are a wide range of LSR testing methods available to ensure quality and consistency. Why LSR Testing is Important? In LSR testing, both LSR material testing and LSR part testing are important. These testing serve many essential purposes…

Introduction Nowadays, manufacturers in various industries discover liquid silicone rubber advantages for injection molding. Liquid silicone injection molding is an effective fabrication technology of molded parts. One of the primary advantage is that LSR molding is more efficiently and economically than other molding processes. Thermoplastics are also a popular option for injection molding, because of their strong, lightweight and easy modification. However, thermoplastics cannot withstand extreme high temperature. Liquid Silicone Rubber Properties Silicone rubber is consisting of sand or silicone dioxide…

Introduction Silicone micro molding is the latest trend in LSR manufacturing industry, in order to satisfy various small size silicone production requirement. As miniaturization development in many high-tech industries, components size is becoming more and more small. Therefore, this encourages silicone molding manufacturers must produce silicone parts with incredible accuracy and precision. Liquid silicone rubber (LSR) injection molding has excellent tolerance and design flexibility. So LSR micro molding is the perfect solution for complex, tiny and critical silicone components. Otherwise, we…

Introduction Liquid silicone rubber (LSR) molding applies the most common manufacturing method of liquid injection molding, it molds raw LSR materials into a wide range of products. Different from standard reaction injection molding process with pressurized impingement mixing. Liquid injection molding uses mechanical mixing methods, it is mainly applied for liquid silicone rubber (LSR) and similar elastomer materials. Injection molding of High Consistency Rubber (HCR) is the oldest technology of silicone rubber parts fabrication, it continues in widespread practice. Nonetheless, liquid injection…

In order to grasp the multiple ways of silicone application and fabrication, it is critical to comprehend its origins. In this article, we will discover how to produce silicone and understand its characteristics. What is Silicone Made of ? Silicone is a versatile polymer, it has both viscosity and elasticity, this characteristic is visco-elasticity. Colloquially, people call these elastic material as rubber, so silicone is also known as silicone rubber. In nowadays, we apply silicone widely in elastomer, oils, greases,…

Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) is a two-part catalysis-cured thermoset elastomer, we normally inject LSR materials into mold cavities to produce final silicone parts. This material provides properties not obtainable with TPE. Therefore, LSR is very versatile in elastomer industry, it is widely applied in various industries from consumer parts to medical devices. The normal operating temperature range of LSR is between -65℃ to 150℃, shortly peaks to 260℃. After solidify formation, LSR has very low compression set. These thermoset polymers are translucent,…

Introduction Thermoset vs thermoplastic are two broad categories plastic materials in injection molding, the primary difference are different behaviors once heated. Thermoset is strengthened in the presence of heat, but it cannot be remolded or heated after the initial forming process. While thermoplastic can be reheated and remolded without any chemical alternations. Therefore, this gives rise to different physical and chemical properties of thermoset vs thermoplastic. Thermoplastic materials have low melting points, otherwise, thermoset parts can withstand high temperature without structural…

LSR vs TPE are the typical thermoset and thermoplastic materials. Thermoset and thermoplastic seam related but never interchangeable. LSR is thermoset, but TPE materials is thermoplastic. Each material has different material properties and inverse behavior in molding production process. Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and liquid silicone rubber (LSR) have similar properties, both of them are beneficial alternatives to natural or synthetic rubber. However, there are significant differences between thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and thermoset elastomer (LSR) characteristics. What is LSR (Liquid Silicone Rubber)? Liquid…

Liquid silicone rubber molding troubleshooting is a critical step in manufacturing process, it will affect the final product quality. Although we get great planning in material selection, machine, process and processing parameter, there are still potential issues difficult to avoid. If we cannot control these issues promptly and properly, final damage will occur in the machine, mold and finished product.