1. LSR molding process
LSR molding process mainly includes the following methods:
Injection molding
Process characteristics: After mixing components A and B in a 1:1 ratio through a metering device, inject them into a hot runner mold and use an injection molding machine to directly mold them.
Advantages: high precision, high efficiency, suitable for mass production, and good product consistency.
Application areas: maternal and child products, 3C electronic products, automotive accessories, etc.
Compression molding (solid to liquid)
Process characteristics: Pour the mixed LSR into the compression mold and solidify it by pressure and temperature.
Advantages: Suitable for the transformation of existing solid silicone factories, and existing mold resources can be used.
Application areas: transitional production or special structural parts.
Reverse molding/casting molding
Process characteristics: Pour the mixed LSR into a specific mold and solidify it at room temperature or heating.
Advantages: Simple process, suitable for small batch or customized production.
Application areas: handicrafts, customized silicone molds, etc.
Coating molding (Coating)
Process features: LSR is evenly coated on the substrate by scraper, roller coating or spraying, and heated to cure.
Advantages: Thin layer coating can be achieved, suitable for large areas or complex substrates.
Application areas: airbags, medical dressings, insulating tapes, etc.
2. Advantages of LSR molding process
High precision and high efficiency
Injection molding can achieve micron-level precision, short production cycle, and is suitable for automated production.
Excellent material performance
LSR has the characteristics of high elasticity, high and low temperature resistance (-60℃ to 250℃), chemical corrosion resistance, good biocompatibility, etc., suitable for high-end applications such as medical and food contact.
Environmental protection and safety
The vulcanization process has no by-products, is non-toxic and odorless, and meets environmental protection requirements.
High design freedom
Complex structural parts such as thin walls, porous, and inserts can be molded to meet diverse design needs.
High degree of automation
The fully automatic molding process reduces manual intervention and reduces production costs.
3. Disadvantages of LSR molding process
High cost of equipment and molds
Injection molding machines, molds and supporting equipment are expensive, and the initial investment is large.
High requirements for process control
Parameters such as the mixing ratio of components A and B, temperature, and pressure need to be precisely controlled, otherwise it is easy to cause product defects.
Material waste
In injection molding, runners and gates will produce waste, and the material utilization rate is relatively low.
Complicated repair and maintenance
Equipment maintenance and mold maintenance require professionals, and the repair cost is high.
Limited product size
Due to the limitations of injection molding machine tonnage and mold design, it is difficult to produce oversized products.
4. Summary of application fields
The LSR molding process is widely used in medical, electronic, automotive, food, maternal and child fields due to its high precision, high performance and environmental protection advantages. For example:
Medical field: catheters, seals, implants, etc.
Electronic field: buttons, seals, waterproof components, etc.
Automotive field: oil seals, gaskets, shock absorbers, etc.
Maternal and child field: pacifiers, pacifiers, teethers, etc.
5. Development Trends
With technological advancement, LSR molding technology is developing in the following directions:
Miniaturization and precision: meeting the needs of microelectronic components and medical devices.
Composite molding: compounding with plastics, metals and other materials to achieve multifunctional integration.
Development of environmentally friendly materials: reducing the amount of platinum catalyst and reducing production costs.
Automation and intelligence: integrating the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence technologies to improve production efficiency.