Which type of steel should be chosen for customized opening of liquid silicone injection molds?

In the process of customizing liquid silicone injection molds, selecting the appropriate steel is crucial. This not only affects the durability and accuracy of the mold, but also directly affects the quality and production cost of the final product.

Firstly, liquid silicone mold is a type of mold used for manufacturing various plastic and rubber products. Its mold making technology mainly utilizes the high elasticity and heat resistance of liquid silicone to achieve product production through mold forming. Liquid silicone has significant thermal expansion characteristics, with a shrinkage rate of 2% to 4% (vulcanization temperature of 150 ℃), and silicone rubber has the characteristic of compressive deformation. Therefore, when manufacturing liquid silicone molds, it is necessary to choose steel with high hardness, high wear resistance, high corrosion resistance, and high thermal stability.

P20 steel is a commonly used low-alloy steel with characteristics such as high hardness, high wear resistance, and high toughness. It is commonly used in the production of various plastic and rubber molds. The main components of P20 steel are low carbon steel and 0.3% to 0.6% chromium and manganese, as well as small amounts of elements such as silicon and molybdenum. When manufacturing liquid silicone molds, P20 steel can provide sufficient hardness and wear resistance, making it suitable for manufacturing larger liquid silicone molds. In addition, the material hardness of P20 steel is moderate and easy to process, which helps to reduce the manufacturing cost of molds.

However, for the production of miscellaneous liquid silicone products, sealing rings, precision structural components, medical supplies, mother and baby silicone products, etc., these products require high precision and strict requirements for burr treatment. Therefore, higher quality steel may be needed. 718 steel is a high-quality choice. It is a steel with high strength, toughness, and corrosion resistance, commonly used in the manufacture of liquid silicone molds, injection molds, etc. The main components of 718 steel include nickel, chromium, iron and other elements, which have excellent corrosion resistance and heat resistance, and are suitable for mold manufacturing under various high temperature and high pressure conditions. 718 steel not only provides excellent surface effects, but also has excellent post-treatment effects such as polishing and electroplating, making it very suitable for making high-precision and high-quality liquid silicone molds.

S136 steel is a high-quality stainless steel with high hardness and toughness, excellent electronic processing performance, and high heat resistance. The main components of S136 steel include chromium, nickel, molybdenum and other elements, which are more corrosion-resistant and heat-resistant than P20 and 718 steel. Therefore, S136 steel is suitable for manufacturing various high-precision, high surface requirements plastic molds and rubber molds. In the manufacturing of liquid silicone molds, S136 steel can provide higher durability and longer service life, especially suitable for producing high-precision and high-density products.

In addition to P20, 718, and S136 steel, NAK80 steel and H13 steel are also commonly used steel types in liquid silicone mold manufacturing. NAK80 steel has excellent quenching and hardening properties and good deformation resistance. Due to its high hardness and good thermal stability, it is widely used in the manufacture of high demand liquid silicone molds. H13 steel is a high-quality hot work mold steel material with excellent wear resistance and high-temperature strength, suitable for manufacturing high-grade and large-scale liquid silicone molds.

When choosing liquid silicone mold steel, multiple factors need to be considered comprehensively. Firstly, it is necessary to consider the usage requirements of the mold, including factors such as its shape, size, and material. Different steels have different physical and chemical properties, suitable for different mold manufacturing needs. For example, for molds that need to withstand high temperature and high pressure, steel with high thermal stability and high corrosion resistance should be selected; For molds that require high precision and high surface quality, steel with high hardness and wear resistance should be selected.

Secondly, it is necessary to consider issues such as manufacturing costs and the difficulty of processing steel. High quality steel usually has higher costs and greater processing difficulties, so mold prices will correspondingly increase. However, if the production cycle of the product is long, the surface effect requirements are strict, or post-processing such as polishing and electroplating is needed, then it is worthwhile to use high-quality steel for mold making. In this case, priority should be given to steel materials such as P20, 718, or S136 for making liquid silicone molds.

In addition, it is necessary to select the best steel according to the production process and requirements. The manufacturing process of liquid silicone injection molds includes multiple stages such as mold design, material selection, processing and manufacturing, and heat treatment. Under different production processes and conditions, the properties and performance of steel will also vary. Therefore, when selecting steel, it is necessary to fully understand the production process and requirements to ensure that the selected steel can meet the various requirements in the mold manufacturing process.

In practical applications, the selection of steel for liquid silicone injection molds also needs to consider the mold’s service life and maintenance costs. Although high-quality steel requires a large initial investment, it can provide higher durability and longer service life, thereby reducing the maintenance cost and replacement frequency of molds. Therefore, when choosing steel, it is necessary to comprehensively consider the service life and maintenance cost of the mold, and choose the most cost-effective type of steel.

In summary, the choice of steel for customizing liquid silicone injection molds needs to be comprehensively considered based on the mold requirements and production needs. P20, 718, S136 and other steel materials are suitable for the production of various plastic and rubber products due to their high hardness, high wear resistance, and high corrosion resistance. When selecting steel, it is necessary to comprehensively consider factors such as the usage requirements of the mold, manufacturing costs, processing difficulties, production processes and requirements, as well as the service life and maintenance costs of the mold.