Increase your manufacturing efficiency

Maximize your process efficiency, from design to final product. With more than 50 years of global rubber industry experience, Dow Corning has a long history of working collaboratively with fabricators and equipment manufacturers worldwide. We can provide you with a total manufacturing solution -- from material selection to manufacturing process expertise.

Draw on our silicone processing experience

Extrusion -- Continuously extruding uncured rubber through a die to form a desired, uniform, cross-sectional size and shape before curing. Dow Corning can help you choose the right materials to increase your extrusion manufacturing efficiencies.

• Per part price varies by complication of extrusion
• Tooling cost varies by requirement requested
• High production rates
• Short lead times
• Ideal for tubing rods, larger gaskets, seals, wire insulation, preforms for compression molding
• Used with High Consistency Rubber (HCR) and Fluorosilicone Rubber (FSR)

Injection molding - Extruding unvulcanized preform rubber through a cylinder into a closed heated mold.

• Low per-part production price
• High production rates attainable
• Short molding cycles possible
• No preform preparation
• No trimming required with correct mold design
• Ideal for products requiring close dimensional tolerances, uniformity
• Used with HCR and FSR

Liquid injection molding -- Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) injected into a closed, heated mold.

• High production rates possible
• Automated processing
• Ideal for intricate designs, close-tolerance parts (e.g., keypads, connector seals, baby bottle nipples, etc.)
• Used with LSR and Fluoro Liquid Silicone Rubber (F-LSR)

Compression molding -- Placing preform rubber into a heated mold, and then into a press to allow the silicone elastomer to melt and fill the mold cavity.

• Low to medium production rates
• Economical method for short runs and start-up production
• Short setup time
• Low waste with correct mold design
• Ability to mold large, fairly intricate parts
• Ideal for gaskets, seals, O-rings
• Used with HCR and FSR

Calendering -- Compressing silicone rubber in a multi-roll process to produce continuous sheeting.

• Ideal as precursor for mandrel-wrapped hoses and ducts or to die-cut seals
• Can be coated onto fabrics or unsupported in very low coat weights/thicknesses
• Can be "cured in line" to provide continuous roll of solid or sponged sheeting
• Used with HCR and FSR compounds

Which rubber material works best for your fabrication process?     HCR (High Consistency Rubber) LSR (Liquid Silicone Rubber) FSR (Fluoro silicone Rubber) F-LSR (Fluoro Liquid Silicone Rubber) Extrusion X   X   Injection Molding X   X   Compression Molding X   X   Liquid Injection Molding   X   X Calendering X   X

Ask an expert to help you specify the ideal Silastic® silicone elastomer for your application.

Tell us what you need.

Learn more about your custom compounding and technical support options.