UV-curing liquid silicone rubber supports use of cost-efficient material combinations in 2K

A new production approach by ELMET is directed at the processing of liquid silicone rubber (LSR) which cures under UV-light from a LED source. This method eliminates the high curing temperatures required for conventional heat-curing LSR grades. Hence, also thermoplastics with a low melting point, including polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE) or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), are suitable for two-component injection molding with LSR as the soft component, whereas otherwise materials providing higher temperature resistance at higher prices are required, such as polyamide (PA) or polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). Thus a broad diversity of new applications is opened up in the production of hard/soft composites using LSR as the soft component. A further innovative component of this system is the new air-powered injection unit for the LSR component. Integrated into the machine control system, it provides a very precise, repeatable injection pressure and velocity for exceptional process stability. The space-saving TOP 1000 Mini metering system delivers an accurately metered amount of LSR into the injection unit.