LIQUID SILICONE RUBBER PROPERTIES AND ADVANTAGES

Pure liquid silicone rubber appears to be one of the production materials that checks all of these conditions. Liquid silicone rubber has proven to be a valuable production material for a variety of sectors due to its material qualities that make it exceptionally reliable across a wide range of applications while also allowing producers to use a variety of manufacturing processes.

We now have a plethora of unique production materials to choose from. However, being strong, chemically resistant, or even thermally stable is no longer enough for any production material. It must also be extremely simple to operate, allow for automation, and be able to be incorporated into existing manufacturing processes.

WHAT IS LIQUID SILICONE RUBBER AND HOW DOES IT WORK?

Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) is a polymer made up of silicon, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen that is frequently utilized. Because of the heat-resistant qualities of liquid silicone rubber, Silicone-based elastomers were first widely used in the early 1940s by chemists at Corning Glass and General Electric.

As the insulating material of choice for electric motors and generators, they replaced resin-impregnated glass fibers. The use of liquid silicone rubber, a two-part thermoset elastomer, makes this material easy to manufacture and shape. Not only did the elastomers outperform the liquid silicone rubber in terms of heat resistance, but their durability and ease of manufacture also made them more commercially viable.

LIQUID SILICONE RUBBER PROPERTIES

The normal operating temperature of fully cured liquid silicone rubber is between -100°C and 300°C. The material maintains its form and other physical qualities within this range. Thermal conductivity, tensile strength, dielectric strength, and rip strength are all superior than other organic rubbers even at severe temperatures.

Because of these features, liquid silicone rubber is the material of choice for applications that demand a material that can maintain its properties even when subjected to extreme temperatures.

CHEMICALLY IMPERVIOUS

Silicone rubber is a great choice for applications that require frequent contact with oils, solvents, acids, and bases. It is suitable for interaction with food.

As a result, silicone rubber is a biocompatible substance that can be used in prosthetics and other medical devices. It is hypoallergenic enough to be utilised in baby care products.

The uncured gel-like polymer can be injection moulded after its components are combined. This enables for large-scale processing, consistency, and adaptability to automated operations. One of the key drivers of liquid silicone rubber’s commercial importance is its appropriateness for fast-paced manufacturing.

Electrical That Is Superior

It’s an excellent material for insulating wires and other electrical components, and it’s made even better by high-precision production procedures that allow small portions to be insulated.

Translucent

Liquid silicone rubber becomes a highly adaptable material in terms of look and colour requirements when pigment is added. For prosthetics, even skin tones can be easily replicated.

SILICONE RUBBER ADDITIVES AND FILLERS USED IN THE INDUSTRY

To achieve a high-performance material for a certain application, liquid silicone rubber typically contains a variety of additives, crosslinkers, and fillers.

Pigments and colours: Unlike other black rubbers, silicone rubbers have a high transparency, making it easy to tint with pigments according to application needs.

Fillers: The most often used reinforcing and non-reinforcing fillers are pyrogenic silica with very high BET surface areas and Quartz. Fillers are used to make modified silicone rubber that has a high tear strength or conductivity (Carbon black).

Stabilizers are primarily used to improve the heat resistance of liquid silicone rubber. Additives such as platinum compounds, carbon black, aluminium trihydrate, zinc, or ceric compounds are used to make silicone rubbers more fire resistant.

ADVANTAGES OF LIQUID SILICONE RUBBER LSR AND THE MOLDING PROCESS

The thermoplastic molding method vs. the liquid silicone rubber molding technique is always referred to as a “reversed situation,” where the mound is actually heated and the screw/barrel is cooled.

Liquid Silicone Rubber LSR is one of the fastest expanding technologies in the industry, thanks to its oversold and two-shot capabilities. This is the 30,000-foot view, as there are several differences in the LSR process that must be properly stated in order for it to be successful. When LSR is combined at a 1:1 ratio, it begins to cure at room temperature.

Because adding heat to the equation accelerates the curing process, a good, chilled water system is required after the two components are introduced to slow down the cure cycle.