Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) is a form of silicone rubber that is liquid at room temperature and can be molded into any shape using the Liquid Silicone Rubber Injection Molding Process. In this blog, we will explore the concept, process, advantages, and application fields of LSR injection molding.
Concept of Liquid Silicone Rubber Molding:
Liquid silicone rubber is a type of silicone rubber that is liquid at room temperature and can be injection molded into a variety of shapes and sizes. LSR is made from two components, a base material and a curing agent, which are mixed and then injected into a mold to create a solid product. The main advantage of LSR molding can produce high-precision parts.
Process of LSR Injection Molding Process:
1. Mold design and creation: The first step in the process is to design the mold that will be used to create the desired shape. The mold is created using CNC machining and is made of steel or aluminum. Make sure to withstand the high temperature of the LSR molding process.
2.Material Preparation: Depending on the desired properties of the product, the liquid silicone rubber is prepared by mixing it with a catalyst and a crosslinker.
3.Machine settings: The operator sets the injection volume, temperature, pressure, injection rate, and cycle time.
4.Injection molding: The process involves the use of an injection molding machine, which consists of a barrel and a plunger. The materials are first fed into the barrel. The material supply system is chilled and the mold is heated. The mold closes in cooperation with the machine’s injector, pump, and supply. The injection mechanism pushes the materials into the mold and cavities.
5.Curing: Once the mold is filled with silicone, the temperature of the mold is increased to accelerate the crosslinking process of the silicone rubber, causing the materials to change from a liquid to a solid state.
6.Cooling and Demolding: After the product is cooled, remove from the mold. According to the needs of the product, flash or trim.
Methods for deflashing include:
Manual tearing
Tumbling
Precision Grinding
Cryogenic processing
7.Quality Control:The final step is quality control. This includes inspecting the product for any defects and measuring its dimensions. We ensure to provide our customers with high-quality products.