Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR)

Owing to their special properties, liquid silicone rubber (LSR = liquid silicone rubber) is suitable for a vast range of applications: From medical engineering to the food industry, in electronics or in mechanical engineering, even in sanitary engineering and in sports as well as in the leisure industry they are used.

The two-component mixtures belong to the group of high-temperature vulcanising rubbers, i.e. the reaction starts under the influence of temperature with no decomposition products being formed. This is exactly the advantage of processing by injection moulding; there is no danger of deposits or plate-out on the moulds to be formed. For setting the processing time, one of the two components has an inhibitor which is also called pot-life controller. The other component is fed by a catalyst. Crosslinking (vulcanization) starts owing to the influence of the mould temperature, usually between 160°C and 220°C. Then, however, the reaction is very fast with approximately 5 s/mm wall thickness. As a result of this, it is possible to achieve shorter cycle times thanks to the use of LSR compared to classic elastomers.

Basically, all Sumitomo (SHI) Demag injection moulding machines with corresponding ancillary equipment are suitable for processing LSR. The deciding factor for achieving the required quality is the stability of the process parameters. Therefore, we recommend machines with precise stroke measuring systems and absolutely precise control of pressures and speeds. 

• Physiologically non-toxic
• Odourless and tasteless
• Good transparency
• Very good haptic and elastic properties
• Very good weathering and ageing resistance
• High-temperature resistant (continuous operating temperature possible up to 180°C)
• Low-temperature resistant and flexible towards low temperatures down to -50°C
• Sterilizable

• Medical equipment (e.g. spacers, hospital aspirators, respiratory masks, etc.
• Food industry (e.g. dispensing units, babies’ bottle teats
• Sanitary fittings and domestic appliances (e.g. seals, baking tins, etc.)
• Electrical and mechanical engineering components (e.g. keyboards, seals and gaskets, O-rings, etc.)
• Sportswear and leisure wear (e.g. toys, sports equipment, etc.)