What are the molding processes for liquid silicone products?
The molding process of liquid silicone products mainly includes the following:
1、 Liquid Injection Molding (LIM)
Liquid injection molding is the process of injecting liquid silicone into a closed mold for solidification molding. This process has efficient production speed, precise product size and detail control ability, making it very suitable for mass production of complex shaped silicone products. For example, in fields such as automotive components and electronic product casings, the application of LIM technology has greatly improved production efficiency and product quality.
2、 Injection molding
Injection molding is the process of placing liquid silicone gel in an open mold and curing it into shape through heating and pressure. This process is relatively simple, with low equipment costs, and is suitable for small and medium-sized batch production. Pressure injection molding is particularly suitable for producing products of different shapes and sizes, such as silicone seals, buttons, etc. Although its production speed is slow, it has certain advantages in cost control and flexibility.
3、 Transfer molding
Transfer molding is the process of injecting liquid silicone into a mold cavity, filling the entire mold with pressure, and then heating and solidifying it. This process is particularly suitable for producing products with complex shapes and multi cavity molds. Transfer molding can reduce waste and improve material utilization, while ensuring the dimensional accuracy and surface quality of the product. The application of transfer molding technology is becoming increasingly widespread in fields such as medical devices and precision instruments.
Molding process of liquid silicone products
4、 Injection molding
Injection molding is the process of pouring liquid silicone directly into an open mold and forming it through natural curing or heating curing. This process is simple and easy to implement, with low mold costs, making it very suitable for small-scale production and prototype making. Injection molding plays an important role in the early stages of product design, as it can quickly verify the feasibility of design schemes and adjust and optimize them.
5、 In Mold Injection Molding
In mold injection molding is the process of injecting liquid silicone into a mold and combining it with other materials such as plastic and metal to form a mold. This process enables the perfect combination of different materials to produce composite products with unique properties and appearance. The application of in mold injection molding technology has greatly enriched the types and functions of products in fields such as consumer electronics and smart homes.
6、 Extrusion molding
Extrusion molding is the process of extruding liquid silicone into a specific shape (such as a long round tube) through an extruder. The extruded silicone products can be cut arbitrarily, with flexible and versatile shapes, and are widely used in medical, video equipment and other fields. For example, medical supplies such as silicone catheters and infusion tubes are often produced using extrusion molding technology.
7、 Dropping molding
Dropping molding is the process of solidifying liquid silicone gel into a mold through a dropper device. This process is suitable for producing products with small batches, complex shapes, and fine structures. Dropping molding can achieve high-precision material control, but the production speed is slow.
In summary, there are various molding processes for liquid silicone products, each with its unique advantages and applicable scenarios. Choosing the appropriate molding process is crucial for improving production efficiency and product quality.
