The reasons why food-grade liquid silicone does not cure well may involve multiple aspects. The following are some of the main reasons and corresponding solutions:
1. Curing agent problem
Insufficient curing agent or incorrect ratio:
Liquid silicone needs to be cured by adding a certain amount of curing agent. If the curing agent is insufficient or the ratio is incorrect, the silicone will not be completely cured.
Solution: When mixing liquid silicone and curing agent, they should be mixed strictly according to the proportions in the instructions, and use accurate weighing tools to reduce errors.
Curing agent quality problem:
If the quality of the curing agent itself is problematic, such as expired, improperly stored or contaminated, it will also affect the curing effect of the silicone.
Solution: Check the expiration date and quality of the curing agent to ensure that it is within the validity period and is not contaminated.
2. Temperature problem
The curing temperature is too low:
Silicone needs to be cured at a certain temperature. If the curing temperature is too low, the chemical reaction rate of the silicone will slow down, thereby affecting the curing effect.
Solution: If the curing temperature is too low, heating measures can be taken to increase the temperature, such as using heating pads or thermostats to maintain the temperature of the silicone. However, it is important to control the heating temperature and time to prevent excessive temperature from damaging the silicone.
3. Time problem
The curing time is too short:
It takes a certain amount of time for silicone to cure. If the curing time is too short, the chemical reaction inside the silicone cannot be fully carried out, resulting in the inability of the silicone to fully cure.
Solution: Give the silicone enough curing time to allow the chemical reaction inside the silicone to fully proceed. You can observe the state of the silicone to determine whether it has been fully cured.
4. Humidity problem
The humidity is too high:
The curing of silicone requires certain humidity conditions, but if the humidity in the air is too high, it may have an adverse effect on the curing of silicone. Excessive humidity may cause water droplets or condensation on the surface of the silicone, thereby affecting the contact and reaction between the silicone and the curing agent.
Solution: Keep the working environment dry and the humidity conditions appropriate. If the humidity in the air is too high, you can use equipment such as dehumidifiers or air conditioners to reduce the humidity. At the same time, be careful to avoid contact between silicone and wet objects or surfaces.
5. Problems with the silicone itself
The quality of the silicone is problematic:
If the silicone itself contains impurities, is expired or improperly stored, it may cause the silicone to fail to cure normally.
Solution: Check the expiration date and quality of the silicone to ensure that it is not contaminated and properly stored.
Silicone poisoning reaction:
Addition-type food-grade liquid silicone cannot come into contact with toxic substances such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur. Contact will cause the platinum catalyst to be contaminated, resulting in the inability of the silicone to cure.
Solution: Ensure the hygiene and cleanliness of the operating environment to avoid contact between silicone and these toxic substances.
In summary, the reasons for poor curing of food-grade liquid silicone may involve multiple aspects such as curing agent, temperature, time, humidity, and silicone itself. When solving these problems, it is necessary to consider various factors comprehensively and take corresponding measures to ensure that the silicone can cure normally.