How to control the product size of liquid silicone sealing rings?
In the manufacturing industry, liquid silicone sealing rings are widely used as high-performance sealing materials in various fields such as electronics, medical, automotive, aerospace, etc. Its excellent high and low temperature resistance, aging resistance, chemical corrosion resistance, and good elastic recovery ability make it a key component to ensure equipment sealing and reliability. However, in the production process of liquid silicone sealing rings, how to accurately control product size to ensure product consistency and meet strict customer requirements is a major challenge faced by manufacturers.
1、 Mold Design: Foundation and Key
The mold is the basis for forming liquid silicone sealing rings, and its design directly affects the dimensional accuracy, appearance quality, and production efficiency of the product. Firstly, the selection of mold materials is crucial, requiring good heat resistance, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance to ensure the stability and accuracy of the mold under long-term high-temperature and high-pressure operations. Secondly, the design of the mold structure needs to consider the flow characteristics of liquid silicone, reasonably set the gate position, quantity, and size, as well as the exhaust system, to ensure uniform material filling and avoid adverse phenomena such as bubbles and material shortages.
In order to accurately control product dimensions, molds also need to be equipped with high-precision measurement and adjustment systems, such as precision cavity size measurement tools, temperature control systems, etc. The mold temperature has a significant impact on the flowability, curing speed, and final product size of liquid silicone. Therefore, through precise temperature control, the injection molding process can be optimized and the stability of product size can be improved.
2、 Injection molding process: details determine success or failure
The injection molding process is the core link in the production of liquid silicone sealing rings, which directly affects the dimensional accuracy and intrinsic quality of the product. During the injection molding process, parameters such as injection pressure, injection speed, holding time, and cooling time must be strictly controlled. Excessive injection pressure may cause product deformation or mold damage, while insufficient pressure may result in incomplete filling; Injecting too quickly may cause turbulence, affecting the surface quality of the product, while injecting too slowly may prolong the production cycle.
The pressure holding stage is particularly crucial for preventing product shrinkage and ensuring dimensional stability. By adjusting the holding time and pressure, the solidification process of liquid silicone in the mold can be effectively controlled, reducing dimensional deviations caused by uneven shrinkage. In addition, the reasonable setting of cooling time is also an important factor in ensuring the stability of product size. Too fast or too slow cooling speed may affect the final size and performance of the product.
Need to optimize mold design, precise injection molding proces
3、 Post processing: optimization and improvement
After injection molding of liquid silicone sealing rings, a series of post-treatment processes are required, including demolding, trimming, cleaning, inspection, etc. Although these processes may seem simple, the final control of product size is equally important. When demolding, it is necessary to ensure that the product is smoothly and undamaged removed from the mold, avoiding dimensional changes caused by external forces. During the trimming process, excess burrs and burrs should be removed to maintain a clean appearance of the product, while avoiding excessive trimming that may affect dimensional accuracy.
The cleaning steps are not only to remove stains and residual release agents from the surface of the product, but more importantly, to maintain the cleanliness of the product surface and prepare for subsequent inspection and packaging. The inspection process is the last line of defense for product quality control, ensuring that every product meets design requirements through measures such as size measurement and appearance inspection. For products that do not meet the standards, they should be promptly identified, isolated, and reworked or scrapped.
4、 Quality Control: Continuous Improvement and Enhancement
In the production process of liquid silicone sealing rings, quality control is a continuous process aimed at improving the stability and consistency of product dimensions through data analysis, problem tracking, and continuous improvement. Firstly, establish a sound quality management system, clarify the quality standards and inspection processes for each link, and ensure that every step of the operation is systematic.
Secondly, advanced measurement techniques and equipment such as coordinate measuring instruments and laser scanners are utilized to perform high-precision and high-efficiency dimensional measurements on products, promptly detecting and correcting dimensional deviations. At the same time, collect quality data during the production process, use statistical process control (SPC) and other methods for analysis, identify potential quality issues, and take corresponding preventive measures.
In addition, strengthening employee training and improving their quality awareness and operational skills are also important ways to enhance product quality. Through regular skill training, quality awareness education, and quality case analysis, we aim to enhance employees’ awareness of product size control and stimulate their enthusiasm for participating in quality improvement.
silicone injection molding
epilogue
The product size control of liquid silicone sealing rings is a complex system engineering involving multiple aspects such as mold design, injection molding process, post-treatment, and quality control. By continuously optimizing mold design, precisely controlling injection molding process parameters, strictly implementing post-processing standards, and establishing a sound quality control system, the stability and consistency of product dimensions can be effectively improved, meeting customers’ strict requirements, and enhancing the market competitiveness of enterprises. In the future, with the continuous development of materials science, manufacturing technology, and information technology, the production of liquid silicone seals will become more intelligent and precise, providing more reliable and efficient sealing solutions for various industries.
