Is There Any Disadvantage When Silicone Oil Is Applied to Silicone Rubber?

In the broad field of material applications, silicone oil, as an excellent liquid auxiliary agent, demonstrates irreplaceable value in numerous areas. The preparation and processing of silicone rubber also rely on its assistance. However, with the increasingly extensive application of silicone rubber, some thorny problems have emerged one after another. Upon in-depth investigation, it's not difficult to find that many situations are closely related to silicone oil. So, is it really only beneficial and without any drawbacks when silicone oil is applied to silicone rubber? Xinjia Organosilicon will reveal the answer for you.

1. Why Does the Mold Silicone Have a Low Number of Molding Times?

During the mold-making process, if too much silicone oil is added, problems will follow. The large amount of silicone oil will damage the molecular weight of the silicone, causing the mold to lose its "endurance". As a result, the number of times the mold can be used decreases significantly, and its durability is greatly reduced. Frequent replacement of molds not only increases costs but also may affect production efficiency.

2. What's the Reason for the Poor Tensile Strength of the Mold Silicone?

Some customers tend to add a large amount of silicone oil when making molds by themselves in order to make the operation more convenient and reduce the viscosity of the silicone. However, this practice is like drinking poison to quench thirst. Excessive silicone oil will make the silicone softer, and the original tough tensile strength will disappear. The tear strength will decline sharply, and eventually, the mold will be easily damaged during the use process and cannot meet the production requirements.

3. Why Does the Silicone Mold Have an Oil Leakage Problem?

Behind the oil leakage problem of the silicone mold, the composite silicone oil is to blame. The composition of this type of silicone oil is complex, and the white mineral oil contained in it is the "culprit" that causes the oil leakage problem. It not only affects the appearance of the mold but also may contain the products in contact with it and reduce the product quality.

4. Why Is the Silicone Rubber Mold Not Resistant to Acid and Alkali and Prone to Aging?

When making silicone rubber molds, the addition of silicone oil actually has hidden secrets. Unless necessary, it is not recommended to add it randomly. If there is a real need, the amount added must be controlled within 5%. Once it exceeds this limit, the silicone oil will act like a "hidden killer" and erode the molecular weight of the silicone, making the mold lose its ability to resist acid and alkali environments, accelerating the aging process, and shortening its service life.

5. Why Is the Pad of Pad Printing Silicone Not Durable?

The durability of the pad of pad printing silicone is closely related to the amount of silicone oil added. The more silicone oil is added, the softer the pad will be. During the frequent printing operations, its wear-resistant and pressure-resistant properties will decline rapidly, and its service life will be greatly shortened. Frequent replacement of the pad will undoubtedly increase the production cost and time cost.
From a molecular perspective, silicone oil and silicone rubber both belong to the family of silicone resins. The structural difference between them mainly lies in the proportion of silicon atoms and groups in the molecular structure. The ratio of groups to silicon atoms in silicone rubber is close to 2:1, showing relatively stable solid characteristics. While in silicone oil, the ratio of groups to silicon atoms is greater than 2:1, with strong fluidity and it will not condense under normal conditions. It is precisely because of this structural characteristic that when too much silicone oil is added to silicone rubber, the overall proportion of groups and silicon atoms is disrupted, the hardness of the silicone is reduced, and the number of uses is also decreased, resulting in a series of common problems.
In conclusion, the application of silicone oil to silicone rubber is not entirely beneficial without any disadvantages. Only by precisely controlling the amount of silicone oil added and reasonably selecting the type of silicone oil can the auxiliary effect of silicone oil be exerted while ensuring the quality and performance of silicone rubber products.