The liquid silicone rubber molding process is a common manufacturing technique for making products and components. Heat is usually applied to raw material, then it is poured into the mold cavity. The raw material is cooled, and mold cavities are formed as it hardens. Mold liquid materials – generally plastics, rubbers, and other polymers – create parts using the same processes. These techniques, such as injection molding or compression molding, differ in their methods. So, what are the differences between silicone compression molding and injection molding?
Silicone Compression Molding
A silicone compression molding technique involves extruding rubber or plastic into parts and products using specially fabricated molds. This involves the placement of material into an open cavity of a mold, sealing the mold, heating the cavity, and solidifying it, followed by pressing it into shape. The process is capable of turning a wide range of designs into tangible materials for a wide range of industries and purposes.
Injection Molding
Alternatively, injection molding is a type of mold that uses injection technology. It’s referred to as “injection molding” because the raw material is injected into a cavity of the mold. The material is pulled into the hopper by a screw during injection molding. After heating the material, it is injected into every cavity of the mold. In contrast to reaction injection molding, where the mixing process takes place under pressure, liquid silicone rubber molding is a mechanical procedure mostly used to mold liquid silicone rubber (LSR Molding) and other elastomeric materials.
Differences between these two processes
When comparing silicone compression molding with injection molding, several factors should be considered. It is important to determine which method is the most efficient. In addition, the method that is most appropriate depends on your application.
liquid silicone rubber molding Process
Compression molding of silicone (SCM) is a liquid silicone rubber molding process of solidifying liquid silicone under pressure and heat. A wide range of products can be made using this process, including medical devices and toys. SCM is typically used to make small items, although larger items can also be manufactured this way. A process is similar to injection molding which uses lsr molding to create a product. SCM is not capable of producing objects that are smaller than the container for the mold.
Size of Product
Compression molding of silicone has the advantage of producing parts with much smaller cavities than molds. An injection mold can only produce items that fit within its cavities. The compression molding process is ideal for large rubber parts, while injection molding can produce small rubber parts with tight tolerances. It is also possible to manufacture compression-molded products between 1.3 mm and one inch thick.
Production Time
Making silicone compression molded products takes longer than molding with injections. In this process, you heat and cool the silicone, which increases the time required. As soon as the product has been formed, a cooling process is not necessary to remove it. By far the most efficient technology is injection molding since the process can be fully automated. liquid silicone rubber molding makes automated production possible.
Quantity and Quality
When the molding process is automated and the cycle times are short, large quantities can be produced. Injection molding is therefore best suited for high-volume serial production, whereas compression molding can be used for low or medium quantities of large products. With injection molding, parts are stronger as a result of their increased mass.
Conclusion
As a result, the real question is not which one you will choose, but why? There are advantages and disadvantages to both silicone compression molding and injection molding, and it depends on your product’s features which will work best for it. Make sure your supplier knows the best method for your product, as that is the most important consideration. No matter which one is more appropriate,