Silicone, primarily composed of silica, has a porous structure with open pores, making it an adsorptive and soft material. To improve its tactile feel while reducing adsorption, a tactile oil is commonly sprayed onto the surface. This oil coating provides benefits like anti-static properties, a soft texture, smooth appearance, uniform surface haze, and a pleasant touch against the skin. However, oil spraying as a surface treatment for silicone products presents several challenges.
· Limited wear resistance of the tactile oil coating.
· Potential allergenic risks from substances adhering to the silicone surface.
· Environmental pollution from oil spraying, affecting water and air quality.
· For products in contact with the human body, using 100% pure silicone without additives is preferred, but silicone’s adsorptive nature and rough texture complicate this.
To address these concerns, the industry has turned to "UV Activation Surface Treatment," a process that enhances silicone without the need for additional substances, preserving its anti-static properties and providing a smoother tactile feel.
Using a low-energy, high-frequency semiconductor source, the process breaks molecular chains on the silicone’s surface, causing a reorganization of the molecular structure. This creates a nano-reactive layer, granting the silicone surface anti-static properties and a smoother texture, all without the use of additives.
Using a high-power microscope, it can be observed that the surface after activation is smoother compared to the surface before activation.
At a height of 10 cm above the silicone surface, evenly sprinkle paper fibers and shake three times to compare the effects.
Below picture shows the whole process of the surface treatment.
Key Management: Energy of the light and angle of illumination (adjusting the height of the light source and conveying time).
(Professional energy equipment management)
| Testing Item | Testing Method | Testing Result |
Wear Resistance Coefficient | Friction tests conducted before& after the process (Before the process: 0.7 kg / After the process: 0.25 kg) | Improvement of over 70% |
Color Difference（△E） | Comparison tests before& after the process | Slightly white appearance& a brighter gloss direction Color difference is stable after the process |
High Temperature& Humidity Test | 95% / 150°C for 48 hours | No changes |
Thermal Shock | -20°C / 120°C for 50 cycles (1 hour each) | No changes |
Tensile Test | Comparison before and after activation (Before the process: 89 N / After the process: 89 N) | No changes |
| Confirmation Items | Surface Oil Coating | Surface UV Activation |
| Surface Durability | Limited Times | Good |
Surface Tactility | Very Good ( Before peeling) | Very Good |
Adsorption | Slight | Extremely Slight |
Tape Test | Related to thickness | 100% |
Chemical Resistance | Will peel off after a certain time | Excellent |
Color | Changes (strong whitening effect) | Slightly white and brighter gloss direction |
Solvent | Yes | No |
Environmental Pollution | Waste gas, waste liquid, waste solid | Trace amounts of ozone gas |
· Selective Activation: Only the silicone surface is activated, leaving the material's core properties unchanged.
· Eco-Friendly: No solvents, coatings, or harmful derivatives are used, eliminating environmental concerns.
· Durability: The activation process results in excellent long-term performance and resistance.
· No Coating Issues: There are no concerns with coating wear, leaching, or migration over time.
· Stable Dimensions: The process does not add thickness, keeping the size of the product consistent.
· Color Stability: The silicone maintains its color integrity over time.
· Surface Limitations: Inherent issues with the silicone surface cannot be masked or corrected through UV activation.
· Semiconductor Limitations: The lifespan of the semiconductor equipment used is currently limited, and the process can be costly.
UV activation surface treatment is widely used in products such as wearable devices (e.g., straps, VR accessories), kitchenware, and sexual wellness items, as well as other internal and external components.
YEJIA specializes in producing custom silicone products, with UV activation surface treatment available exclusively for in-house manufactured items. If you're interested, please contact us today.
