Liquid Silicone Rubber & Liquid injection moulding process guide

Table of Contents

● What is Liquid silicone rubber moulding?

● How does LSR different from Injection moulding

● Liquid silicone rubber applications

What is Liquid silicone rubber moulding?

Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) moulding, sometimes known as Liquid Injection Moulding (LIM), is a thermoset process of two compounds mixed and then heat-cured inside the mould using a platinum catalyst to create flexible silicone parts. A low compression set and the ability to resist extreme temperatures make LSR mouldings durable and ideal for challenging applications. LSR elastomer offers exceptional optical clarity, durability, and design flexibility while maintaining excellent mechanical properties across a wide range of temperatures (-50°C to 250°C).

LSR injection moulding is suitable for manufacturing complicated geometries and can combine multiple functional elements into a single part due to its design and tooling flexibility. In terms of product dependability and total cost of tooling, LIM provides considerable advantages.

How does LSR different from Injection moulding

LSR moulding is very similar to conventional injection moulding in how the part is formed inside a mould but varies in how it cures the part.

In injection moulding, Thermoplastic resin is melted before injection and cured using pressure. LSR is a two-part thermoset compound that is cooled before being injected into a heated mould and ultimately cured into a final part. Moulded state of thermoset LSR is permanent and cannot be remelted and used again like a thermoplastic. The components A and B are combined in a 1:1 ratio to generate the heat-accelerated reaction that converts liquid to solid rubber.

Liquid silicone rubber applications

Liquid silicone rubber is very versatile and used in a wide range of applications, ranging from consumer electronics to extreme industrial applications.

● Optics – Outdoor, automotive, and professional lighting

● Automotive – Lenses LED lighting, Light guides, Optical coupling, O-rings, buttons, components, gaskets, and wire harness components

● Electronics – LED lenses, Light guides, Protective sleeves

● Consumer goods – Nose pads, Ear bugs, Googles, Headsets

● Healthcare and Medical – Medical tubing, Endoscopy components, Catheters, Lenses, UV LED lighting, flow control valves, syringe stoppers, and other components