Silicone Rubber Mouldings
Silicone Rubber Mouldings
Advanced Seals & Gaskets Ltd supply moulded components manufactured using a range of silicone rubber material types. Solid silicone rubber mouldings are generally bespoke shapes often with complex profiles, a ribbed/textured finish or may require a lip or curved edge - for these reasons mouldings can not simply be pressed from sheet material and require specialist machinery. All our plastic mouldings are made to order and are produced using a combination of samples or drawings provided by our customers, from which a tool or moulded cavity can be made. Silicone rubber mouldings can be taken in an endless number forms including feet, buttons, housings and cases, , screws, combs, tubes and o-rings to name a few, all designed to provide protection, prevent the leakage or ingress of air, fluid or gas and to be aesthetically pleasing.
Product Enquiry
For information on Silicone Rubber Mouldings please complete the following quick enquiry or call us on +44(0)1384 252555.
Product Specification & Key Characteristics
- Colour: black, translucent, white, red, blue
- Shore Hardness: available in 20° - 80° shore
- Temperature:-40℃ to +200°C (230°C intermittent)
- Resistances: UV, oxidation, ozone, weathering, corona discharge, radiation
- Applications: used in a multitude of industries including automotive, catering (food & drink), electronics, pharmaceutical, insulation
Full technical data can be supplied upon request,
or downloaded from our online portal.
What are Silicone Rubber Mouldings?
Silicone (SI) rubber mouldings are produced using raw molten rubber compound and a mould or ‘die’ in which the rubber profile is formed and cured (set). Silicone (SI) rubber mouldings are available in a range of grades, hardnesses and colours, each with its own set of characteristics, properties and resistances to suit different exposures and environments - each produced using one of the techniques below:
INJECTION MOULDING
Injection moulding is the process by which raw/uncured rubber material is loaded into a hopper or holding unit where it is heated to a molten state and then fed through a nozzle in pre-measured quantities into the mould/cavity. Pressure and heat levels are adjusted within the cavity causing the material to ‘cure’ and the moulded product is formed.
COMPRESSION MOULDING
Compression moulding is made up of a top and bottom pre-heated steel mould/cavity into which raw material is poured in and the two halves are closed together. This tool is heated in order to melt the neoprene compound creating the desired shape and the final product. Although this process is great for bespoke moulding, it can be very time consuming for high volume production.
TRANSFER MOULDING
The transfer moulding process is the more complex of the three. The raw/uncured material or charge is loaded into the transfer pot, this pot is then heated as a plunger slowly enters the pot building pressure, forcing the melted rubber through the sprue or channel. The sprue leads to the mould cavity, this cavity is then filled with the melted rubber material forming the desired shape of the component. Once the raw material has cured, the moulding too can be opened and the formed part removed.
Why use Silicone Rubber Mouldings?
When customers are looking for a bespoke profile to fit a very specific application, standard off the shelf products may not always be an exact fit, this is where mouldings can be used.
The process of producing a moulded part means the customer gets a product in the shape and size required, and is guaranteed to have an identical product each time, which is essential for high volume production and assembly.
Customers will often choose silicone for their mouldings as the material is available in a choice of grades, hardnesses and colours, which are suitable for use in hot or cold environments and offer a number of other excellent properties including strength and resistance to outdoor exposures.
Different Grades
Advanced Seals & Gaskets Ltd have a network of material manufacturers and suppliers, giving our customers more choice when looking for moulded silicone products, our most popular grades being:
- High Temperature Silicone - FDA approved and suitable for working conditions up to 300°C
- FDA Approved Silicone - all general purpose silicone are certified for use within food, drink & pharmaceutical applications
- Metal Detectable Silicone - used to detect metal fragments
- Fluorosilicone - this material offers the same mechanical properties as standard silicone, but with an improved fuel and mineral oil resistance.
- Platinum cured Silicone - this non-yellowing translucent material offers a high tear strength and does not produce any peroxides or ketones.
- Conductive Silicone is a carbon filled silicone which conducts a low electrical amperage
- Flame retardant offers a more superior flame retardance, meeting the following standard for railways BS6853 Cat1A and French Norm NFF 16-101 (now superseded by TS EN 45545-2)
Benefits of Using Silicone Mouldings
- Resistant to weathering, UV, ozone and chemicals
- Can be used in food and pharmaceutical applications
- Available in a choice of colours, hardnesses and grades
- Bespoke profiles available in small or large quantities
- Flame retardancy and electrical insulating properties
- Can be used to produce variations of the same product for trials
Advantages of Using Silicone Mouldings
Customers often choose silicone rubber mouldings as the material has a list of excellent characteristics and features, silicone rubber has a broad working temperature range of (-40℃ to +200°C) for use in hot and cold environments, with high temperature versions also available for extreme heat.
Silicone rubber mouldings are resistant to ozone, weathering, sea water, many chemicals and fungal growth, they also offer excellent tensile strength, tear resistance and electrical insulating properties.
Solid silicone rubber mouldings are available in a range of colours and hardnesses (the shore hardness is measured using a shore durometer which indicates the level of resistance to indentation ,the higher number on the scale indicate a greater resistance - harder the material/lower number indicate less resistance- softer the material). The material is also manufactured in different grades which add extra properties for use in specific applications such as high temperatures, food and flame retardancy.
Please contact us using the form below or by calling us on +44(0)1384 252555.