Oct. 25, 2019
Silicone products are widely used in various industries because of their unique properties. The production process of silicone products involves two types of molding techniques: Compression Molding for solid silicone materials and liquid injection molding for liquid silicone materials. In this article, we will discuss the production process of solid silicone compression molding in detail.
Compression molding is a popular technique used to manufacture solid silicone materials. It involves the use of pressure and heat to shape and form the material into the desired product. This process is widely used in various industries such as automotive, aerospace, medical, and electronics.
The production process of solid silicone compression molding can be divided into 9 steps:
1. Raw material preparation:
The raw materials used for the production of silicone products are purchased in blocks, which are usually milky white in color. Before the compression molding process, a vulcanizing agent or ripening agent needs to be added to the raw material. The ingredients must be weighed according to the formula to ensure proper mixing. If the silicone product requires specific properties like color, luminosity, conductivity, or fluorescence, special materials like color masterbatch are added.
2. Rubber mixing:
The raw materials and the vulcanizing agent and other additives required are mixed in a rubber mixing machine according to the product requirements. The general rubber mixing time is around 30 minutes for 20KGS solid silicone materials, the timing might be adjusted depending on the weight of the raw materials and the roller gap.
3. Cutting:
The prepared silicone material is cut into the required size and placed on a shelf for approximately 8 hours. To ensure cleanliness, PE film protection is applied on both sides of the raw materials.
4. Compression molding:
After cutting, the rubber is placed in the mold and subjected to heating, venting, holding, and molding.
5. Inspection:
After molding, the product is inspected for any defects like dirt, missing edges, lack of material, unsatisfactory product, or product rupture. Defective products are treated as waste and cannot be used in secondary processes.
6. De-flashing:
The burr or flash needs to be removed, so to get the qualified silicone products.
7. Surface treatment:
If the silicone product requires surface treatment like oil spraying, silkscreen printing, or laser engraving, it is processed accordingly.
8. Inspection:
The final inspection of the silicone product is carried out to ensure quality control. Defective products are selected and treated as waste.
9. Packaging:
The final step is packaging the qualified silicone products for shipment.
One of the advantages of compression molding is that it allows for the production of complex shapes and designs. The process is also highly efficient, with a high rate of production and minimal waste. Additionally, compression molding can produce parts with consistent quality and dimensional accuracy.
In conclusion, compression molding is a highly effective technique for producing solid silicone materials. It offers a number of advantages over other manufacturing processes and is widely used in various industries. With its ability to produce complex shapes and designs, consistent quality, and high efficiency, compression molding is an important part of modern manufacturing. Solid silicon compression molding is a complex process that requires careful attention to detail at every step. By following these steps, manufacturers can produce high-quality silicone products that meet the specific requirements of their customers.
