Wacker opens silicone elastomers lab in China

By Liz White, ERJ staff

Shanghai, China-Wacker started up a laboratory for silicone elastomers in its Shanghai Technical Centre on 22 Sept. The German-headquartered silicone supplier said the unit, "will serve as a development and test lab for silicone applications in the electrical and electronics sectors and for injection molding of liquid silicone rubber."

Wacker said that its investment-an unspecified amount-will support Chinese customers developing new silicone products and processing technologies.

Jean-Lionel Gros, head of Wacker China, said in a company statement that the group intends to offer customers from the Chinese silicone industry "products and solutions perfectly matched to their requirements."

With the new facility Wacker will be able "to provide better support than ever in helping our silicone customers to develop new product," Gros added.

Equipment at the lab includes an injection moulding line and various dispensing and filling systems for silicone elastomers, plus test equipment for measuring mechanical properties, ageing resistance and weight loss. With this data, properties of room-temperature and high-temperature vulcanising silicone elastomers and liquid silicone rubber grades to be carefully tailored to particular applications and processing technologies.