In the previous articles, we discussed the production processes of silicone products such as molding, laser engraving, and spraying. Today, let's talk about a topic that is becoming increasingly popular in the industry - liquid silicone rubber (LSR).
If you have recently paid attention to baby products, smart wearables, medical devices, or electric vehicles, you may have noticed a trend: more and more products are adopting liquid silicone rubber materials. Baby nipples, smart watch straps, medical catheters, automotive seals... The presence of liquid silicone rubber can be seen everywhere.
Why is it so popular? Today, let's talk about it.
What is liquid silicone rubber?
Liquid silicone rubber, abbreviated as LSR (Liquid Silicone Rubber), is in contrast to solid high-temperature vulcanized silicone rubber. As the name suggests, it is in a liquid state at room temperature and has the characteristics of good fluidity and fast vulcanization.
In simple terms, liquid silicone rubber is purer, safer, and has higher molding efficiency compared to traditional solid silicone rubber.
Why is it so popular? Four reasons
1. Excellent material properties
The reason why liquid silicone is favored is that it has a "good foundation":
High biocompatibility: It can be used to produce products that come into direct contact with the human body, such as artificial organs and prosthetics
Wide temperature adaptability: It maintains good mechanical properties within the range of -60°C to +250°C
Safe and environmentally friendly: It does not contain bisphenol A (BPA), and can fully meet food-grade requirements
High durability: It has excellent tear resistance, elasticity, resistance to yellowing, and heat aging resistance
High transparency: The products have high transparency, making it easy to observe whether there are bubbles or other defects inside
2. Efficient production process
The processing method of liquid silicone is completely different from that of traditional solid silicone. It uses the liquid injection molding (LIM) process - directly injecting the two-component liquid into the mold and heating it to solidify.
Compared to traditional processes, LIM has several prominent advantages:
Saves manpower: The material transportation, measurement, mixing, and injection processes are realized through continuous and automated operations
High production efficiency: Rapid curing, short molding cycle
Good product quality: No reaction by-products are generated, and no impurities are mixed in
Suitable for composite molding: Good fluidity, low molding pressure, and can be molded together with metals and plastics
In simple terms, liquid silicone does not require mixing, has low energy consumption, short molding cycle, high production efficiency, and can achieve full automation
3. Increasing application fields
The application of liquid silicone is expanding from traditional industrial seals and gaskets to high-value-added products:
Maternity and infant products: Liquid silicone does not contain plasticizers, BPA, and latex proteins. It still retains elasticity after hundreds of dishwasher or disinfection cycles, and its durability far exceeds alternative materials such as TPE. In products like baby pacifiers, teethers, and baby bottles, liquid silicone has become the mainstream choice
Medical health: Liquid silicone meets ISO 10993 cytotoxicity standards and USP VI level standards. It can withstand gamma radiation and steam sterilization. High-end medical products such as medical catheters, implants, and surgical instruments are widely using it
Consumer electronics: Liquid silicone is used for soft touch interfaces, waterproof sealing, and micro sealing components. The waterproof and touch improvement of products like mobile phones, headphones, and smart watches all rely on it
New energy vehicles: The popularity of electric vehicles requires advanced materials for battery sealing, high-voltage connectors, and thermal management systems. Liquid silicone can still maintain performance in extreme temperatures and has become an indispensable material in modern automotive architectures
Food contact: Due to its non-toxic, food-grade characteristics, liquid silicone is also increasingly being used in kitchenware and food storage solutions
4. Upgraded consumption drives
Consumers nowadays are becoming more "selective". Consumers in North America and Asia are increasingly focusing on health and safety, and they are looking for traditional plastic substitutes that are free of BPA and have low allergenicity
Liquid silicone precisely meets this demand - safe, non-toxic, good in touch, and durable. This makes it increasingly popular as a high-end material
Hongxiangda and Liquid Silicone Rubber
As a factory that has been dedicated to silicone rubber products for 15 years, Hongxiangda is also actively expanding its business into the field of liquid silicone rubber.
We understand that the threshold for liquid silicone rubber is not about "whether there are equipment", but about the understanding and control of the process. The injection molding of liquid silicone rubber has extremely high requirements for temperature control, mold design, and material ratio. If the temperature is incorrect, the material will prematurely solidify; if the mold design is unreasonable, the product accuracy will not meet the requirements; if the parameters are not adjusted properly, the yield will drop sharply.
At Hongxiangda, we have accumulated rich practical experience in material selection, mold design, and process parameter debugging. Whether it is baby products, medical accessories, or consumer electronic parts, we can provide one-stop services from research and development to mass production.
If you are looking for a partner for liquid silicone rubber products, please come to Hongxiangda and have a chat.