Hello! My name is Rob and I live in a small town which is located about 50 miles outside of Sydney. Now and again, I like to visit my brother who works at an industrial plant in the city. When I visit him, my brother lets me into his office and gives me tours around the plant. They produce all kinds of cool things using the tools they have there. However, I recently learnt they didn't always own the things they needed to complete the job and would instead hire them. I learnt all kinds of cool things about hiring industrial equipment. Although I don't work in the industry, I wanted to share what I had learnt with the rest of the world.
Rubber products are made through a moulding process. Generally, rubber products are used in applications across multiple industries. Automotive, agricultural, construction, medical, and defence industries, among many others, are some of the top industries that benefit from rubber moulding.
However, because the industries and applications in which rubber moulding and its products are used are vast and almost endless, finding the exact rubber moulded products for your application can be difficult. For this reason, custom rubber moulding is often the solution. It's a bespoke manufacturing process where rubber is reformulated to fit your application's exact specs.
Different materials can be used in the custom rubber moulding process to produce high-quality moulds. Here is an in-depth look into some of them.
Silicone
Silicone is one of the top choices in custom rubber mould-making because of its many benefits. Durability, stability, and flexibility are some of the most notable reasons to consider this material for your custom rubber moulds. Silicone also has exceptional electricity and high-temperature resistance, making it a suitable choice for a diverse array of applications. Different silicone variations can be used in the custom rubber moulding process. Some of these include methyl silicone, vinyl methyl silicone, and phenyl vinyl methyl silicone. They have unique properties that make them suitable for most rubber applications.
Silicone mould applications include, among others, prototyping, consumer goods like candles, jewellery, and food-grade moulds for products like chocolates. However, one of the top limitations to using silicone moulds is the cost because they tend to be costlier than other mould materials.
Nitrile Rubber
If you are looking for a low-cost alternative, nitrile rubber could be the solution. Besides its cost effectiveness, the material is exceptionally stable in different temperatures. In addition, it has high tensile strength and resistance to petroleum-based fuels and oils. The moulds are highly used in the automotive, industrial, and aeronautical industries with some of the standard rubber-moulded nitrile products including automotive gaskets, O-rings, oil seals, and engine hoses.
Polyurethane
This is another material to consider for your custom rubber moulds. It's versatile, readily available, and extremely robust, making it highly resistant to abrasion. Usually, the material comes in various consistencies, allowing you to adjust thickness to suit your unique rubber mould specs. Polyurethanes are also highly resistant to chemicals, ideal if you plan to work in chemical conditions.
Usually, polyurethanes are found in applications like seals, roller coaster parts, and foam insulation. However, they tend to have moderate heat resistance. Therefore, they may not be the best option if you plan to work in high-temperature environments. Look into custom rubber moulding products for more information.