How to ensure quality control of silicone products?

In today’s manufacturing industry, silicone products are widely used in various fields such as medical, food, electronics, automotive, toys, etc. due to their excellent physical and chemical properties, such as high temperature resistance, low temperature resistance, oxidation resistance, electrical insulation, and physiological inertness. However, to ensure the quality and safety of silicone products, strict quality control measures must be implemented from multiple aspects such as raw material selection, production process control, and finished product inspection.

1、 Raw material control: the source of quality

1.1 Supplier Audit
The quality of raw materials directly determines the performance of the final product. Therefore, it is crucial to choose a reputable silicone raw material supplier with standardized production processes. Enterprises should conduct regular audits of suppliers to evaluate their quality management system, production capacity, environmental standards, and historical supply quality. Ensure that the silicone raw materials provided by suppliers meet industry standards and customer needs through on-site inspections, sample testing, third-party certification, and other methods.
1.2 Raw material testing
Before each batch of silicone raw materials enters the factory, strict quality testing is required. This includes but is not limited to visual inspection (color, transparency, impurities), physical performance testing (hardness, tensile strength, tear strength), chemical performance testing (acid and alkali resistance, aging resistance), and microbiological testing (particularly important for medical and food grade silicone). Through these tests, unqualified raw materials can be detected and removed in a timely manner to prevent them from flowing into the production line.
1.3 Storage Management
The storage conditions of silicone raw materials also directly affect their quality. The warehouse should be kept dry, ventilated, and away from light to avoid moisture, heat, or contamination of raw materials. At the same time, the first in, first out principle is implemented to ensure that raw materials are used within their validity period and reduce performance degradation caused by prolonged storage time.

2、 Production process optimization: striving for excellence

2.1 Formula Design
Scientifically design silicone formula based on product application scenarios and performance requirements. A reasonable formula can not only meet the basic functional requirements of the product, but also improve production efficiency and reduce costs. When designing the formula, it is necessary to fully consider factors such as compatibility between raw materials, processing temperature, vulcanization time, etc., to ensure the stability and repeatability of the formula.

2.2 Molding process
There are various molding methods for silicone products, including injection molding, extrusion molding, rolling molding, and compression molding. Each molding method has its specific process parameters and precautions. For example, in injection molding, precise control of injection pressure, speed, and temperature is required to ensure the dimensional accuracy and surface smoothness of the product. In compression molding, attention should be paid to the design of the mold, preheating temperature, and time to avoid problems such as bubbles, missing materials, or deformation in the product.
2.3 Post processing
Post processing is a key step in improving the quality of silicone products, including deburring, cleaning, drying, and sulfurization post-treatment. Through precise post-processing, the appearance, durability, and safety of the product can be further improved. For example, post sulfurization treatment can not only enhance the cross-linking degree of silicone, but also improve its heat resistance and chemical stability.

3、 Quality inspection and feedback: closed-loop management

3.1 Online monitoring
In the production process, an online monitoring system is introduced to monitor production parameters and product quality in real-time. Such as monitoring the vulcanization temperature through an infrared thermometer, monitoring the injection pressure through a pressure sensor, and detecting surface defects of the product through a visual inspection system. These real-time data provide important basis for timely adjustment of production parameters and prevention of quality problems.
3.2 Finished product inspection
After each batch of silicone products is produced, strict finished product inspection is required. This includes visual inspection, dimensional measurement, performance testing (such as tensile strength, tear strength, aging resistance testing), safety testing (such as toxicology testing, fire resistance testing), etc. Through these inspections, ensure that the product meets the design requirements and relevant standards.
3.3 Customer Feedback and Continuous Improvement
Product quality control is a continuous improvement process. Enterprises should establish an effective customer feedback mechanism to promptly collect and handle issues and suggestions discovered by customers during use. Identify weak links in product quality through data analysis and develop targeted improvement measures. At the same time, encourage employees to propose quality improvement suggestions and stimulate the enthusiasm of all staff to participate in quality management.

4、 Case study: Quality control of silicone milk bottles

Taking silicone milk bottles as an example, their quality control is particularly strict because it directly affects the health and safety of infants and young children. Starting from the selection of raw materials, it is necessary to ensure that silicone raw materials are non-toxic, odorless, and free of harmful substances such as bisphenol A. In terms of production process, precision molds and advanced injection molding technology are used to ensure the precise size, smooth surface, and easy cleaning of the bottle. In the post-processing stage, multiple cleaning and high-temperature disinfection are carried out to thoroughly remove residues and ensure the hygiene and safety of the product. In addition, each batch of milk bottles must undergo strict performance and safety tests, including but not limited to drop tests, steaming and boiling tests, chemical solvent immersion tests, etc., to ensure that the bottles can maintain excellent performance and safety in various usage scenarios.

epilogue

Ensuring the quality control of silicone products is a systematic project that requires starting from multiple aspects such as raw material control, production process optimization, quality inspection and feedback, to form a closed-loop management. Through scientific formula design, meticulous production management, strict quality testing, and active customer feedback mechanisms, we continuously improve product quality, meet market demand, and win customer trust.