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Manufacturers in a wide range of industries use plastics in their injection molding processes. Plastics are a popular option because they are strong, lightweight and can be molded easily into the desired shape.
However, materials like thermoplastic elastomers cannot withstand extreme heat and distort and lose their shape when exposed to high temperatures. That is why more and more manufacturers are turning to liquid silicone rubber.
Liquid silicone rubber (LSR) is a two-part silicone-based polymer joined together by a chemical bond. It’s most commonly used to create injection molded parts for products used in industries such as automotive, food, appliances, textiles, and consumer goods.
When the polymer is injection molded and heated, the catalyst initiates a cross-linking progression. This progression gives the substance permanent strength and shape after the curing process.
The resulting material is strong and durable, making it ideal for a variety of products including:
LSRs can withstand temperatures up to 180 °C with no melting or creeping. They have become a popular option for heavy-duty and automotive applications like seals and gaskets.
Thermoplastic elastomers can lose their flexibility at extreme temperatures. At low temperatures, they become harder and more brittle until they eventually crack. LSRs, however, remain flexible at temperatures as low as -50 °C. They are an excellent choice for any products that need to operate in a low-temperature environment.
Aging resistance is an important factor in determining the right material for your injection molding process. Cured LSR materials provide excellent resistance to UV rays, weathering, and aging. They are ideal for use in applications where long-term exposure to the elements is a concern.
Thermoplastic elastomers can resist chemicals in a broad range of applications. But they only offer chemical resistance in moderate temperature ranges. LSR offers low water absorption and excellent resistance to common chemicals even when exposed to extreme temperatures.
A low compression set means that materials can resist permanent deformation under a constant strain. LSRs have a very low compression set, typically in the range of 15%-20%. They are able to retain their elasticity even when compressed for extended periods of time and subjected to different temperature ranges.
The shelf life of liquid silicone rubber is one of the key factors contributing to the ease of use in a manufacturing environment. Most LSR products are available with a shelf life of at least one year.
Electronics manufacturers need to know that the materials they are using can resist corona discharge. LSR offers high resistance to electrical stress without impacting the conductivity of the final product. For this reason, these materials are commonly used in high-voltage applications and electrical parts.
H.M. Royal is proud to offer a wide variety of ELASTOSIL® liquid silicone rubber grades from Wacker to meet the specific requirements of your application. ELASTOSIL products are available in self-adhesive grades and can be over-molded with engineering plastics, metal, glass, and other materials.
To learn more about how you can incorporate ELASTOSIL® products into your application, contact an H.M. Royal product expert today.
A silicone oil is any liquid polymerized siloxane with organic side chains. The most important member is polydimethylsiloxane. These polymers are of commercial interest because of their relatively high thermal stability and their lubricating properties.[1]
Structure
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Like all siloxanes (e.g., hexamethyldisiloxane), the polymer backbone consists of alternating silicon and oxygen atoms (...Si−O−Si−O−Si...). Many groups can be attached to the tetravalent silicon centres, but the dominant substituent is methyl or sometimes phenyl. Many silicone liquids are linear polymers end-capped with trimethylsilyl groups. Other silicone liquids are cyclosiloxanes.
Applications
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Silicone oils are primarily used as lubricants, thermic fluid oils or hydraulic fluids. They are excellent electrical insulators[2] and, unlike their carbon analogues, are non-flammable. Their temperature stability and good heat-transfer characteristics make them widely used in laboratories for heating baths ("oil baths") placed on top of hotplate stirrers, as well as in freeze-dryers as refrigerants. Silicone oil is also commonly used as the working fluid in dashpots, wet-type transformers, diffusion pumps and in oil-filled heaters. Aerospace use includes the external coolant loop and radiators of the International Space Station Zvezda module, which rejects heat in the vacuum of space.[3]
The class of silicone oils known as cyclosiloxanes has many of the same properties as other non-cyclic siloxane liquids but also has a relatively high volatility, making it useful in a number of cosmetic products such as antiperspirant.
Some silicone oils, such as simethicone, are potent anti-foaming agents due to their low surface tension. They are used in industrial applications such as distillation or fermentation, where excessive amounts of foam can be problematic. They are sometimes added to cooking oils to prevent excessive foaming during deep frying. Silicone oils used as lubricants can be inadvertent defoamers (contaminants) in processes where foam is desired, such as in the manufacture of polyurethane foam.
Silicone oil is also one of the two main ingredients in Silly Putty, along with boric acid.
Silicone oil may be used as a gun lubricant. It is compatible with the rubber, plastic and metal parts frequently found in firearms. Due to the high surface adhesion of silicone oil, it forms a persistent film which may be useful in protecting guns during extended storage.
Medical uses
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Consumer products to control flatulence often contain silicone oil. Silicone oils have been used as a vitreous fluid substitute to treat difficult cases of retinal detachment, such as those complicated with proliferative vitreoretinopathy, large retinal tears, and penetrating ocular trauma.[4] Additionally, silicone oil is used in general medicine and surgery. Because of silicone oil's water repellent and lubricating properties, it is considered an appropriate material to maintain surgical instruments. They are also used in digital rectal examinations (DRE).
Automotive use
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Silicone oil has been commonly used as the fluid in the automobile cooling fan clutch assemblies, and is still being used in the newer electronic fan clutches.[5]
References
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