Have you ever wondered how your favorite silicone products came to be? Or what kind of materials were they made of? What about the tests they undergo to make sure that the quality is as good as possible? Well, whether or not you have asked these questions, we are here to help you know and understand the answers.
First things first. Silicone is a polymer that can come in the form of a colorless, oily, or rubber-like substance, and it is usually used in sealants, adhesives, cooking utensils, and insulation devices.
It has been used in many commercial products like biomedical implants due to its chemical inertness, resistance to water and oxidation, and stability despite its temperatures. With this being said, here is a guide on how to manufacture silicone products.
1. Raw Material
The quality of the raw materials is vital in ensuring the quality of the finished products. Respected material suppliers provide and maintain the excellent quality of the incoming materials for future silicone products. This is not only because they are reliable brands. They are FDA & LFGB certified providers of food-grade silicone that are ensured by the rigorous incoming tests that the materials go through.
2. Mold Making
When you have years of experience and the ability to improve your skills and product ideas continuously, you will be able to have the ability to consistently create special molds that will suit the demands of your clients. Other things you have to consider in the mold making process are:
- Feasibility Analysis – Make sure to carefully go through and examine your product design before providing a quote. Also, make sure to identify any type of errors or concerns before creating a prototype and recommending the necessary adjustments to use the full potential of the design.
- High Precision – To ensure that your silicone products are at their full potential or optimization, the molds should at least have a minimal tolerance of 0.05mm, or you can adjust it to suit the specific requests of the customer.
- State-of-the-art equipment – To make the manufacturing process faster and more efficient, having a wide range of modern solid equipment like CNC and EDM machines, milling and grinding machines, and lathes that produce exact molds will definitely impress your clients.
3. Manufacturing Solutions
To deliver the tailor-made solutions that your customers want, you will need to adapt to the various molding methods that can quickly produce the best silicone products that are needed. This includes:
- Compression Molding – Since silicone products are heat pressed by a compression vulcanizer on its dedicated compression mold, it makes a high-pressure vacuum that copies the molds. This method of production is meant for larger molds, as it reduces material waste and costs.
- Liquid Silicone Molding – The liquid silicone rubber is injected into its corresponding mold and given time to cure and adapt to its shape. This is a process with a short turnaround period, as it captures more details that are ideal for some intricate silicone pieces.
4. Post Processing
To add more details to the silicone product, you can try imprinting your branding on the product, like:
- Logo Printing – Your brand logo, patterns, and designs can be added to your product in black and white or multi-color schemes depending on your preference.
- Oil Painting – You can apply food-grade oil painting that is non-toxic and safe for food and drinks to accentuate the smooth texture of your finished silicone products.
- Secondary Vulcanization – Finished products are put in a 200°C static oven for the post-curing process. It helps remove the excess volatiles to results in a cleaner and more durable finish.
5. Reliable Performance Tests
Having a great QA team and sophisticated testing equipment helps guarantee the quality of the products.
- Tension Test – Because tension is an essential quality for silicone, the products are subjected to a precise tension gauge to examine it.
- Temperature Test – Extreme temperature tests are conducted to ensure the temperature resistance of the products, especially for kitchenware.
- Aging Test – The aging test ensures exceptional ozone resistance and excellent mechanical properties that can withstand harsh conditions.
6. Inspect To Every Piece, Every Detail
Professional QC teams conduct a full-range inspection during the packaging stage to guarantee the quality and safety of the products. The assessment covers all aspects, like dimensions and product surface, to logo and packaging inspection, ensuring that they match your standards. You can customize your product packaging to comply with the ISTA tests and FBA shipping requirements. Other processes include dust blowing, contamination removal, ISTA and FBA compliance, and 100% full Inspection.
Are you looking for a reliable silicone manufacturer in the market? Wetop values its customer’s satisfaction through manufacturing reliable silicone products. Whatever your needs, we can provide. You may browse through our product catalog at https://wetopsilicone.com/, or if you wish to have your silicone products customized, send us a message.