How to distinguish the hardness and softness of silicone materials in silicone products? In many product design and development processes, it is impossible to predict how soft and hard materials are needed to achieve functionality. Therefore, how should the hardness and softness of silicone products be selected?
For silicone materials, hardness determines whether the assembly function of the main product can be achieved and whether the buffering and shock-absorbing effect can be achieved. Currently, the hardness of silicone products commonly ranges from 20 ° to 80 ° in different industries. However, with the development and progress of materials in recent years, it can now reach 90 °. Under normal circumstances, the tolerance range of hardness is ± 5 °, and manufacturers of finer grained raw materials can also adjust it to ± 2 °. For some products, the accuracy of hardness mainly determines the functional role of the product.
However, currently, the common hardness of mixed rubber products is mainly between 40-60. Compared to metal materials, silicone is different, so the tolerance range for both hardness and product precision is relatively large. Silicone accessory manufacturers must have put in enough effort to strictly control the hardness and dimensional tolerance of the silicone products they produce.
For high hardness silicone products, the higher the hardness of the product, the more brittle it becomes, and the tear resistance will increase. The self splitting mold line and burrs are easily brittle, so the structure is one of the most critical issues. If the structure is complex, even if there are inverted or right angle products after processing, improper use can easily lead to damage. Therefore, the higher the hardness, the simpler the structure of the product. The production yield and service life rate of overly complex products will be lower.
For low hardness silicone products, the opposite is true. Products with lower hardness can have more complex structures and are easier to produce and process, resulting in better elasticity. However, the same tearing resistance may cause fracture during stretching, which is also related to the raw materials. However, silicone product manufacturers are prone to softening and undercooking of low hardness products during processing, and may also cause fracture due to oblique or right angles under normal force.
Silicone products with different hardness have different functional effects, and the difference in hardness and softness is mainly used as the functional effect of the product. Generally, a hardness of 30 ° -70 ° can achieve the best functional effect of the product. If the hardness is too low or too high, it may cause some products to be difficult to process, increase the cost and production efficiency of the product.
