Effects of Variation in Process Parameters on Cavity Pressure and Mechanical Strength of Molded Parts in LSR Injection Molding

Liquid silicone rubber (LSR) has been widely used in automotive, electrical, and medical components. Thus, research on the use of LSR in the injection molding process is required to obtain high-quality and high-performance products. In this study, a mold was fabricated to examine the effects of the process parameters on the molding and mechanical properties of LSR parts. A computer-aided engineering analysis was used to optimize the air vent depth and curing temperature to decrease the flash at the air vents caused by the low viscosity of LSR. Temperature and pressure sensors were mounted in the mold to determine the effects of the process parameters on the temperature and pressure in the cavity. The tensile strength of the LSR parts was also examined in relation to the process parameters.