LIQUID SILICONE RUBBER | MATERIALS
Recent applications of liquid silicone rubber include a grade for food-contact products, a new dosing system and the creation of a two-component part with a 60s cycle time
Liquid refreshment: innovations in LSR
Liquid silicone rubber (LSR) requires special attention in injection moulding – but is a vital material, espe- cially in many food-based applications. At Fakuma 2024, Arburg created a two-compo-
nent part made of liquid silicone rubber (LSR) and a thermoplastic. It used an Allrounder More 2000 to process PBT and LSR to create food-safe spatulas. The intelligent assistance of its Gestica control system ensured optimum cycle time and energy efficiency, while a Yaskawa six-axis robot handled the injection moulding process, it said. The electric Allrounder More 2000, with a clamp-
ing force of 2,000 kN in the Ultimate performance variant, was equipped with two electric injection units, in sizes 170 and 400. The spatula handle was made from PBT using the smaller vertical injection unit. The pre-moulded part then rotates from the upper to the lower finishing station in the 1+1 cavity mould from Polarform. A horizontal injection unit then overmoulded the soft spatula component from a non-tempered LSR from Wacker. The two components are injected directly and with no waste. A hot runner system is used for the PBT handle, while overmoulding with LSR is
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performed by a servo-electric cold runner. Finished products are cooled in a downstream cooling station. Thanks to systematic selection of materials and the automated process, the product is ready for use in a cycle time of around 60 seconds.
Triple example At Fakuma last year, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag presented three separate examples of its LSR moulding solutions. In one live demonstration, it showed the manufacturing of an infusion valve in collaboration with ACH Solution. In another, with Kracht, it demonstrated the production of dental covers. Finally, it showed a single-cavity heat protection cooking mat in partnership with Momentive Performance Materials and Elmet. The automation on display illustrated three payload classes from the company’s in-house Sam-C range. The Sam-C20 (payload: 20 kg) on an IntElect 180 with LSR package demoulded parts from a 64-cavity mould from ACH Solution. In the mid-weight range, a Sam C-10 was used on an IntElect 130 for the cooking mat. In the Kracht
Main image: Arburg made a two-compo- nent spatula at Fakuma 2024 from LSR and PBT
July/August 2025 | INJECTION WORLD 25
IMAGE: ARBURG
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