What is silicone molding？
"Silicone molding" refers to the process of using silicone rubber as the mold material, injecting silicone liquid into the mold through a series of process steps, and then solidifying to form the mold. This process aims to replicate the shape and details of the prototype, creating a silicone product that is identical to the prototype. Our factory has top-level silicone molding capabilities.
Are silicone molding and silicone molds the same concept?
no!
"Silicone molding" and "silicone molds" are two related but somewhat contextually different concepts.
Silicone Molds:
"Silicone molds" refers to specific silicone molds. These molds are made of silicone and are used to hold the shape of the object to be made during molding. Silicone molds are typically flexible and durable, capable of capturing the details of your prototype and maintaining them while molding.
What are the processes of silicone molding?
Prototyping:
Creating a prototype of a desired artifact, which can be of any material, usually based on a model of the design or an existing object.
Make the mold: Build a mold frame (mold box) around the prototype, then pour silicone liquid into the mold frame to cover the entire prototype surface. The silicone liquid flows into the detailed parts of the prototype, capturing every detail of the prototype.
Silicone curing:
Wait for the silicone liquid to cure naturally or use heat to promote curing. After the silicone cures, it forms a soft, flexible mold that can be easily detached from the prototype.
Mold Release:
Once the silicone mold has cured, it can be carefully detached from the prototype to obtain a silicone mold that conforms to the shape of the prototype.
Mold preparation: If necessary, some post-processing can be done on the silicone mold, such as trimming edges, cleaning up details, or applying some special coatings.
Molding:
By injecting liquid or molten silicone into a silicone mold and then solidifying, a silicone product similar to the prototype is obtained. This can be used to create multiple identical or similar artifacts.
How many types of silicone molding are there?
Compression Molding:
In compression molding, silicone is pre-placed in a mold and then solidifies in the mold through the action of pressure and temperature. This is a relatively simple molding method suitable for making larger, simpler silicone products. Compression molding is often used to make seals, gaskets, etc.
Injection Molding:
Injection molding involves injecting liquid silicone into a mold under high pressure and then solidifying it in the mold. This method is suitable for manufacturing complex and precise silicone parts and has the advantages of high productivity and high precision. Injection molding is often used to produce high-demand silicone products such as electronic components and medical devices.
Coating Molding:
Coating molding is to coat silicone on a base material and then bond the silicone to the base material through curing. This molding method is suitable for products that require silicone coating, such as medical devices, cables, etc.
Pourable Molding:
Infusion molding is to pour liquid silicone directly into a prototype or mold, filling it to the desired shape and then hardening. This molding method is suitable for making complex and detailed parts, and is relatively simple. It is often used in art, decoration and other fields.
Silicone Extrusion Molding
It is a manufacturing process that forms a continuous silicone product with a given cross-sectional shape and size by extruding silicone raw material through an extruder. This process is commonly used to manufacture various silicone rubber seals, pipes, strip products, etc.
Silicone Overmolding
Is a manufacturing process in which a silicone material is covered on the surface of another substrate (usually plastic or metal) to form a wear-resistant, high-temperature resistant, soft, sealing covering. This process is often used to provide additional protection, enhance surface texture or improve product performance.
What molding method should be used for liquid silicone rubber?
Liquid silicone rubber can usually be molded in a variety of ways, and the specific choice depends on factors such as product requirements, shape, complexity, and production efficiency.
Injection Molding:
For liquid silicone rubber, injection molding is a common method. It is similar to plastic injection molding, in which liquid silicone is injected into a mold and subjected to high pressure to fill the mold and form the product. Injection molding is suitable for producing high-precision, high-volume silicone rubber products.
Pourable Molding:
Infusion molding is a method in which liquid silicone rubber is poured directly into the mold. This method is suitable for making larger and simpler silicone rubber products, and can also capture mold details. It is relatively simple and suitable for low-cost and small-volume production.
Coating Molding:
Coating molding is a method of applying liquid silicone rubber to the surface of an object to form a thin layer of silicone coating. This is suitable for situations where silicone protection or coverage is required, such as coating of electronic components.
Compression Molding:
In compression molding, liquid silicone rubber is placed in a mold and then cured using pressure and heat. This method is suitable for production of relatively simple shapes and smaller batches.
Vacuum Casting:
In vacuum casting, air bubbles are reduced or eliminated by creating a vacuum before the liquid silicone rubber is poured into the mold. This is suitable for silicone rubber products that require a smooth surface and no bubbles.
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Our silicone manufacturing process combines advanced technology and exquisite craftsmanship to ensure that products meet the highest standards from design to production. By using advanced processes such as infusion molding and injection molding, we are able to produce high-precision, highly elastic silicone products, covering everything from small parts to large components.
Leading Silicone Molding Technology
Our proud silicone molding technology gives us a mastery of complex shapes and details. Using the latest mold design and manufacturing technology, we are able to achieve a high degree of accuracy and repeatability on a wide range of products to meet our customers' most stringent requirements.
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