Silicone Molding Services Information

Silicone molding services produce molded components that are made from silicone or liquid silicone rubber. Silicone rubber is a two-component, synthetic, flexible, rubber-like material made from silicone elastomers that can be cured at room temperature into a solid elastomer for use in molding.  Silicone rubber is heat resistant, durable, and free of allergens or leachable chemicals.  Liquid silicone is similar to regular silicone, but has different processing characteristics.  It is purchased as a two-part raw material with a grease-like viscosity. When selecting silicone molding services, parameters to consider include molding processes, services offered, certification and quality requirements, and regional preference. 

Silicone molding services perform processes such as cast molding, compression molding, dip molding, injection molding, and liquid injection molding (LIM). Cast molding services pour the liquid material is poured into an open mold. Compression molding services press a slug of silicone between two heated mold-halves. Generally, they use vertical presses instead of with horizontal presses. Dip molding services perform a process similar to hot dip coating, an operation in which the finished product is the fused plastisol stripped from the dipped mold.  Injection molding services use a molding process that supplies the rubber to the injection machine's barrel-and-nozzle assembly on a continual basis. The rubber is a high-consistency silicone rubber (HCR) known as gum stock. Liquid injection molding (LIM) services are silicone molding services which use a high-viscosity liquid which comes in two parts: Part A and Part B. Both are injected into a heated mold.  

Some silicone molding services perform reaction injection molding (RIM), rotational molding, and transfer molding. RIM services use a process in which two or more reactive chemicals are mixed at high speed as they are injected into a mold. Reaction injection molding is a low-temperature process which typically takes under a minute, including mixing, curing, and demolding. Rotational molding services or rotomolding services fill hollow molds with silicone material and secure them to pipe-like spokes which extend from a central hub. The molds rotate or tumble on separate axes at once. The hub swings the entire mold into an enclosed furnace room that causes the powder to melt and stick to the insides of the tools. Transfer molding services are silicone molding services which clamp the two mold halves together and use pressure to force the silicone into the mold. 

Services offered by providers of silicone molding services include bonding, design assistance, graphics, tool or mold making, prototype or market entry molding, low volume production, high volume production, micro molding, large part molding, insert molding, two-shot injection molding, stamping services, assembly services, just-in-time capability, tool / mold making, and packaging and shipping.  Common certifications and quality requirements met by providers of silicone molding services include ISO 9001, ISO 9002, ISO 14001, QS9000, cleanroom and MIL-SPEC. Silicone molding services are located across North America and around the world, and can be selected by regional preference.

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