Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) is widely used in infant products, kitchenware, and wearable devices due to its unique material properties.
| Application Field | Typical Use Cases | Key Technical Advantages of LSR |
|---|---|---|
| 👶 Infant Products | Silicone baby bottles, nipples & teethers, nipple shields | Medical-grade safety, high-temperature sterilization resistance, soft touch, tear resistance |
| 🍳 Kitchenware | Baking molds, sealing and preservation systems, coffee accessories (e.g., cup lids) | Wide temperature stability, chemical inertness, easy demolding, high durability |
| ⌚️ Wearable Devices | Smartwatch straps/wristbands, VR face cushions & optical lenses, biosensing devices | Biocompatibility, flexibility and comfort, waterproof insulation, support for precision overmolding |
The reason LSR excels in these safety- and durability-critical areas lies primarily in its inherent advantages from a materials science perspective:
- An Innate Benchmark for Safety: The silicon-oxygen-silicon (Si-O-Si) backbone of LSR is an inorganic skeletal structure, granting it innate chemical inertness. It does not react with food, leaving no odor even when holding acidic substances like lemon juice. Through the platinum-catalyzed curing process, there is no need for additives like plasticizers or stabilizers common in traditional plastics, fundamentally preventing the migration of harmful substances such as BPA. This allows LSR to meet stringent global food-contact and medical-grade certifications (e.g., FDA, LFGB).
- Exceptional Environmental Stability: LSR can withstand extreme temperatures ranging from -50°C to 250°C. Whether subjected to boiling water sterilization, microwave heating, oven use, or freezing, its physical properties remain stable—it does not become brittle or deform. Its smooth, non-porous surface effectively inhibits bacterial and mold growth and is resistant to yellowing, maintaining a fresh appearance even after long-term use.
- Superior User Experience: LSR material is soft, providing a skin-like feel. At the same time, it possesses high resilience and tear strength, ensuring product durability.
🛠️ How Manufacturing Processes Add Value
Some of LSR’s advantages, particularly in design freedom and product integration, are realized through its unique processing techniques:
- Injection Molding and Automation: LSR is processed using injection molding, which is particularly suitable for large-scale, high-efficiency automated production. When combined with cold runner systems, material waste can be significantly reduced. This process also achieves micron-level replication accuracy, with linear shrinkage rates as low as ≤0.1%, enabling the manufacture of parts with extremely complex structures and precise dimensions.
- Multi-Material Overmolding Technology: This is a key technique in LSR processing, allowing the soft LSR to be directly injection molded onto other materials (such as plastics like PA, PC, or metal parts) in one or a sequential production process. This technology enables strong adhesion between a rigid frame and ultra-soft silicone, combining the properties of different materials without the need for assembly.