Momentive touts UV-curing liquid silicone rubber at K 2013
Düsseldorf – Momentive Performance Materials’ ultraviolet-curing LSR has expanded the range of design possibilities involving multi-component injection moulding, says the company.
Hitherto, notes Momentive, two-component or multi-component designs using silicone elastomers were limited to heat-stable substrates such as PA or PBT, due to the moulding temperatures required to vulcanise the silicone. Now, UV-curing LSR can be combined with more affordable, lower melting point resins, such as polypropylene, enabling new concepts.
Oliver Franssen, Momentive’s marketing director for the transportation sector, told ERJ: "The lower moulding temperatures possible with UV curing don’t just help process reliability – energy consumption savings of up to 80 percent are possible compared with conventional silicone curing.”
The company says that designers can explore "completely new integrated material approaches” for devices such as valves, syringe components, laboratory ware, diagnostic devices, catheters, respiratory devices and kitchenware, or develop totally new products.
Other potential processing and manufacturing benefits cited for UV LSR curing include:
• reduced cycle times, especially for thick-walled articles;
• possible cost savings through more affordable substrates, less floor space required for equipment, and reduced operational costs.
On Stand 8a/G45at the K2013 show, Momentive is demonstrating two-component moulding of a soap dish with a non-slip foot in Momentive’s UV LSR 2030 material. A standard Engel e-mac 170/50 plastics injection moulding machine is used with a Viper 6 robot and Elmet mould.
The company offers stand visitors a soap tablet to take away with the dish if they wish.
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