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Silicone Knowledge - How to Increase the Number of Mold Replications for Liquid Silicone Rubber Molds?

2025-03-31

Increasing the number of molding cycles for liquid silicone rubber molds requires optimization across multiple stages, including material selection, manufacturing processes, and maintenance. The following are specific methods summarized from search results:

I. Material Selection and Quality Control
1. Selecting the appropriate silicone rubber type and hardness
Soft rubber is suitable for small, intricately patterned products, while hard rubber is necessary for larger products to improve resistance to deformation.
Prioritize platinum-catalyzed addition-cure silicone rubber, which offers superior tear resistance and aging resistance, allowing for 800-1000 molding cycles (for plaster-type molds).
2. Avoid adding silicone oil
Excessive silicone oil can damage the silicone rubber molecular structure, leading to mold brittleness and reduced tear resistance. It is recommended to adjust the curing agent ratio or choose a high-flow silicone rubber as a substitute.
3. Curing agent ratio and quality
The amount of curing agent added needs to be adjusted according to the temperature (usually 1.5-3%), reducing the amount in high temperatures to prevent the mold from becoming too hard and brittle.
Use high-quality silicone rubber brands and avoid inferior recycled materials or counterfeit products.

II. Correct Production and Use of Silicone Rubber Molds
1. Proportional mixing: Strictly follow the manufacturer's instructions for mixing silicone rubber and curing agent, ensuring thorough mixing. Inconsistent mixing can lead to uneven mold curing, affecting service life.
2. Vacuum degassing: During the manufacturing process, perform vacuum degassing on the silicone rubber to eliminate air bubbles, improving mold density and durability.
3. Spraying release agent: Before using the mold, spray an appropriate amount of release agent to facilitate demolding and reduce mold wear. Choose the appropriate type of release agent to suit different molding materials.
4. Avoid high temperatures and flames: Silicone rubber molds should be kept away from high-temperature flames and power sources to prevent accelerated aging. If baking is required, it should be done in an oven at a suitable temperature.

III. Enhancing Mold Structure
1. Adding reinforcing materials: When making large or complex molds, reinforcing materials such as fiber cloth or fiberglass cloth can be added to the silicone rubber to improve tear resistance and service life.
2. Reasonable mold design: Optimize the mold design, such as adding reinforcing ribs or changing the mold wall thickness, to improve the overall strength and stability of the mold.

IV. Correct Maintenance and Care
1. Regular cleaning: After use, promptly clean any residue from the mold surface to prevent corrosion and damage. Avoid using corrosive reagents and hard tools during cleaning.
2. Proper storage: Store the mold in a dry, dust-free environment, avoiding direct sunlight and heavy pressure. Molds not in use for extended periods should be inspected and maintained regularly.
3. Rotating use: If multiple molds are available, it is recommended to rotate their use to distribute wear and tear, preventing damage from overuse of a single mold.

V. Other Precautions
1. Understanding material properties: Before production, fully understand the properties of the molding material to choose the appropriate silicone rubber type and ratio.
2. Controlling curing time: For molding materials that require curing, strictly control the curing time to prevent the silicone rubber mold from aging due to prolonged heat exposure.
3. Following operating procedures: Strictly follow the operating procedures for molding operations to avoid mold damage due to improper operation.

In summary, by selecting appropriate silicone rubber materials, correctly manufacturing and using silicone rubber molds, enhancing the mold structure, performing proper maintenance and care, and following operating procedures, the number of molding cycles and service life of liquid silicone rubber molds can be effectively improved.

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