Benefits Of Silicone Rubber Injection Molding

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Plastics have become the material of choice for manufacturers using injection molding processes. Generally, plastic has strong, lightweight, and easy-to-mold characteristics suitable for molding required parts and components. However, some plastics, like thermoplastic elastomers, cannot withstand extreme heat and are more prone to distortions when exposed to very high temperatures.

For this reason, manufacturers in a wide range of industries prefer rubber silicone to produce parts efficiently and economically. Liquid silicone rubber (LSR) is one great innovation for injection molding. The silicone’s basic structure is made up of duplicating Si-O chains (or polyatomic anions consisting of silicon and oxygen, also called silicate). LSR is highly flexible in nature, providing unique properties such as:

Wide temperature operating range
Good corrosion resistance
Permeability
Bio-inertness
Electrical insulation
Long service life

Advantages Of Using LSR In Injection Molding

The following are some of the benefits of using liquid silicone rubber in silicone rubber injection molding:

Superior Heat Stability

LSRs can withstand temperatures as high as 180℃ without melting or trickling. Due to this, they are common for heavy-duty and automotive applications such as seals and gaskets. LSR is also the preferred material for other industrial applications because of its high thermal ability.

Low-Temperature Flexibility

LSRs can withstand temperatures as low as -50°C. They are an excellent choice for any device that requires a low-temperature operation. This advantage is in contrast with most thermoplastics which become more rigid and brittle when exposed to low temperatures.

Aging Resistance

Aging resistance is critical when selecting a material for your injection molding procedure. LSR materials that have been cured are highly resistant to UV rays, weathering, and aging. They are ideal for applications that require extended outdoor exposure.

Chemical Resistance

LSR has low water absorption and excellent resistance to common chemicals even when exposed to extreme temperatures as compared to most thermoplastics which only offer chemical resistance in moderate temperature ranges.

Low Compression Set

Low compression set materials can withstand structural damage under severe stress. LSRs have a low compression set, typically between 15% and 20%. They retain their elastic properties even when compressed for extended periods of time.

Great Shelf-Life Reliability

The shelf life of liquid silicone rubber is one of the key factors in determining its ease of use in a production line. The majority of LSR products have a shelf life of one year.

Electrical Resistance

Manufacturers of electronic components must ensure that their materials can withstand corona discharge or voltage spikes. LSR has a high electrical stress resistance without affecting the final product’s conductivity.

Precision Made Molded Rubber Parts by Jefferson Rubber

Since the late 1970s, liquid silicone rubber injection molding has been used in various industries, including health care, medical, consumer goods, automotive, devices & electronics, and aerospace. Silicone rubber injection molding has been one of the most efficient and economical processes in molding rubber parts or components.

Jefferson Rubber Works, Inc. manufactures high-quality molded rubber parts and offers various rubber molding capabilities, including liquid silicone injection molding, rubber-to-metal molding, compression molding, transfer molding, and more! We provide a complete solution that includes part design, prototyping, production, finishing, and assembly, all at a quick turnaround time and cost-efficient rate.

With our 40 years of experience in the rubber manufacturing industry, we ensure to eliminate the need to work with multiple vendors. We can serve as your one-stop shop to meet all your custom rubber molding requirements and produce the high-quality products that you need.