We all know that the production of silicone products requires many operations (such as rubber mixing, color matching, molding, and edge removal). Some of them are as soft as a silicone cake mat, and some are as hard as a protective rubber stopper. So what are the factors that affect the production of silicone products?

1. Hardness

The most important factor affecting silicone products must be the hardness. Silicone rubber materials have a Shore hardness range of 10 to 90. This hardness range gives designers full freedom to take advantage of the product to achieve specific functions. Various intermediate hardness values can be achieved by mixing different ratios of material substrates, fillers and additives. Likewise, the time and temperature of heat curing can also change hardness without destroying other physical characteristics.

2. Tensile strength

Tensile strength refers to the force per range unit required to cause a piece of rubber material to tear. The tensile strength of thermally vulcanized solid silicone rubber ranges from 4.0 to 12.5 MPa. The tensile strength of fluorosilicone rubber ranges from 8.7-12.1MPa. The tensile strength of liquid silicone rubber ranges from 3.6 to 11.0 MPa.

3. Tear strength

Resistance to the expansion of a cut or score when force is applied to a cut sample. Even if it is cut and placed under extremely high torsional stress, the thermally vulcanized solid silicone rubber can not be torn. The tear strength of thermally vulcanized solid silicone rubber ranges from 9 to 55 kN/m. The tear strength of fluorosilicone rubber ranges from 17.5-46.4 kN/m. Liquid silicone rubber has a tear strength range of 11.5-52 kN/m.

4. Vulcanization time

Some places will say it is curing time. That is to say, after such a long time, the vulcanization reaction of silica gel is basically over. This basically means that the product is ready to use, but in fact there is still a small part of the curing reaction that has not ended. Therefore, products made of silicone rubber, such as silicone molds, are usually put into use for a period of time.