Rubber molding services use a variety of methods and materials to manufacture rubber products such as seals, grips, and caps. Most production methods pour liquid rubber into a heated, cooled, expandable, or two-part mold. Temperature, air, or pressure then forms the material into a finished product. Typically, application requirements such as resistance and temperature determine which material is used. Rubber molding services are available worldwide and offer a variety of services and certifications. For example, some companies provide design and prototyping assistance. Others specialize in assembly services or pack and ship finished products. The International Standards Organization (ISO) establishes design, development, and production standards to which many rubber molding services adhere.
Rubber molding services use a variety of manufacturing processes. Injection molding forces liquid rubber into a cooled mold so that when the material solidifies, the mold is unclamped and the finished part is ejected. Like injection molding, blow molding forces liquid rubber into a mold; however, because blow molding uses expandable tubes and a flow of compressed air, the mold blows up like a balloon and creates a hollow part. In compression molding, slugs of rubber are pressed between two heated mold halves and the finished part is then air-cooled. In transfer molding, two mold halves are clamped together and rubber or silicone is forced through one or more sprues into a heated mold. In cast urethane molding, open molds are filled with liquid urethane, an elastomer that provides excellent wear resistance, high tensile strength and high elasticity. Dip molding, which strips fused plastisol from a dipped mold, is used to produce gloves, grips, and protective caps.
Application requirements determine which natural and synthetic materials rubber molding services use. Natural rubber materials include polyisoprene and latex. Synthetic rubber materials include neoprene, a flexible, twistable compound that provides better burn resistance than natural materials. Nitrile and styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) provide good resistance to a variety of petroleum hydrocarbons, but ethylene propylene (EPDM) does not. Instead, EPDM is used to withstand damage from sunlight, weathering, and ozone. Butyl, an isobutylene isoprene elastomer, is valued for its resistance to water, steam, alkalis, and oxygenated solvents. Silicone, a synthetic material available in both solid and liquid forms, is durable and free of allergens or leachable chemicals. Fluorosilicone is similar to silicone in its mechanical and physical properties, but offers improved resistance to fuel and mineral oil. Highly fluorinated, carbon backboned polymers resist harsh chemicals and provide good thermal stability.
Rubber molding services manufacture products for many industries and applications. For example, micro molding companies use specialized equipment to manufacture miniature, lightweight parts for automotive and medical applications. Other rubber molding services specialize in the design and production of large parts, accommodate small or large production runs, or serve the aerospace and consumer electronics industries. Rubber molding services that specialize in tool / mold making are also available.
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