A Guide to Designing Products with Silicone
Silicone is a popular choice for product designers due to its flexibility, durability, and ease of use. However, working with silicone requires a good understanding of its properties and limitations. In this guide, we’ll provide you with some knowledge you need to design products that showcase silicone’s full potential.
Key Design Considerations for Silicone Products
1. Simple Parting Lines:
- Think about the mold or tool: Imagine slicing your product in half. The line where it splits is your parting line. Manufacturers need this line to be clear and straightforward so they can create a mold or tool that accurately separates the finished product.
Take a look at the image where parting lines are visible. I’ve highlighted them with black arrow.
Here’s an illustration showing all sides of the product, along with a separate image labeled ‘A’ and ‘B.’ These labels represent the two halves of the mold that come together. The marked line indicates the parting line where the mold halves meet when filled with silicone.
- Straight lines are best: Avoid curves or angles that would make the mold complex and difficult to manufacture.
- Location matters: The parting line shouldn't run through areas where there needs to be strength or precision, as this could weaken the product or create inconsistencies. Product designs typically don't include parting lines initially. These lines are determined during the CNC programming stage for engraving the mold. We always discuss the parting line options with the client to ensure a successful outcome.
2. Avoid Complex Geometries:
- Small details can be problematic: Intricate features, sharp corners, and tiny protrusions can be difficult (and expensive) to manufacture accurately. They might get stuck in molds, require specialized tools, or lead to defects.
Think about the manufacturing process
- Liquid Silicone Injection Molding (LSI): Excellent for producing complex shapes with smooth surfaces and intricate details because the liquid silicone flows easily into the mold.
- Silicone Compression Molding: More suitable for simpler designs with thicker walls. It involves placing pre-measured silicone material into a heated mold cavity, applying pressure, and allowing it to cure.
- Silicone Overmolding: This involves molding a second layer of silicone over an existing object (usually made of plastic or metal). It adds cushioning, grip, or decorative elements. Think phone cases with rubberized sides.
- Silicone Die Cutting: This process uses a sharp blade to cut pre-cured silicone sheet into specific shapes. It's good for simple shapes and gaskets but not as detailed as injection molding.
- Silicone Extrusion Molding: Used to create long, continuous shapes of silicone tubing, hoses, or profiles. It's great for things like medical catheters or automotive seals.
- Silicone Dispersion Molding: This technique involves mixing fillers (like pigments, glass fibers, or metal particles) into the liquid silicone before molding. It enhances properties like strength, heat resistance, or conductivity.
What this means for your design
- The Right Molding Method for Your Product: Understand the manufacturing method used for your product.
- Simplify whenever possible: Can you round off a sharp corner? Combine two small features into one? Make the overall shape more streamlined?
- Think about functionality: Do you really need all those intricate details? Could a simpler design still achieve the same purpose?
- Consult with engineers: If you're unsure, always talk to manufacturing experts early in the process. They can provide valuable feedback on your design and help you find solutions that are both functional and manufacturable.
Material Selection Factors to Consider When Designing with Silicone
Material Selection Criteria
- When selecting a silicone material, consider the following factors:
- Temperature range: Will your product be exposed to high temperatures (above 300°C) or low temperatures (below -20°C)?
- Chemical resistance: Does your product need to resist exposure to chemicals such as acids, bases, or solvents?
- Mechanical properties: Do you require a silicone with high tensile strength, flexibility, or durability?
- Electrical properties: Will your product be exposed to electrical charges or currents?
- Aesthetics: Are there specific color, texture, or transparency requirements for your product?
Types of silicone
- The following types of silicone are commonly used in various industries:
- General-purpose silicone: These silicone have a wide range of viscosities and are used for general-purpose applications such as lubricants, greases, and sealants.
- High-temperature silicone: These silicone are designed to operate at high temperatures (up to 500°C) and are used in applications like cookware, heating elements, and thermally stable adhesives.
- Water-clear silicone: These silicone have a clear, water-like appearance and are used in applications such as cosmetics, adhesives, and sealants where transparency is required.
- Medical-grade silicone: These silicone meet strict regulatory requirements for use in medical devices, implants, and diagnostics. They are biocompatible, non-toxic, and sterilizable.
- RTV (Room Temperature Vulcanizing) silicone: These silicone cure at room temperature and are used in applications like adhesives, sealants, and coatings.
- High-consistency silicone rubbers (HCR): These silicone have a high viscosity and are used for applications such as moldings, sealants, and gaskets.
- Liquid silicone rubber (LSR): These silicone are liquid at room temperature and are used in applications like adhesives, coatings, and moldings.
- Platinum-cured silicone: These silicone use platinum as a catalyst to cure and are known for their high thermal stability and resistance to chemicals.
- Aluminum-cured silicone: These silicone use aluminum as a catalyst to cure and are less expensive than platinum-cured silicone but still offer good thermal stability and chemical resistance.
- Silicone resins: These silicone are thermosetting materials that are used in applications like coatings, varnishes, and adhesives.
With the right additives, you can customize a special silicone for specific needs. In fact, there are numerous types of silicone available, each with its own unique characteristics and properties.
To learn more about the different types of silicone, including their applications and benefits, please visit our article on https://siliconedabojin.com/17-silicone-types-applications-features/
Designing Products with Silicone: Essential Considerations
Design Considerations for Specific Applications: When designing products that use silicone, consider the following:
- Kitchenware: Use a general-purpose gas-phase silicone to ensure food safety and ease of cleaning.
- Medical devices: Choose a silicone that is biocompatible, sterilizable, and resistant to chemicals and heat.
- Aerospace components: Select a high-temperature silicone that can withstand extreme temperatures and mechanical stresses.
- Water-clear silicone: Use in applications where transparency is required, such as cosmetics or adhesives.
- High-consistency silicone rubbers (HCR): Consider using HCRs in applications that require high viscosity and stability, such as moldings, sealants, or gaskets.
- Liquid silicone rubber (LSR): Use LSRs in applications where a liquid material is required, such as coatings or moldings.
- Platinum-cured silicone: Choose platinum-cured silicone for applications that require high thermal stability and resistance to chemicals, such as cookware or heating elements.
- Aluminum-cured silicone: Select aluminum-cured silicone for applications where cost-effectiveness is a concern but still require good thermal stability and chemical resistance, such as adhesives or sealants.
- Silicone resins: Use silicone resins in applications that require thermosetting materials, such as coatings, varnishes, or adhesives.
Material Properties and Performance: When designing with silicone, consider the following properties:
- Tensile strength
- Elongation at break
- Tear resistance
- Chemical resistance
- Chemical inertness
- Thermal stability
- Purity
- Surface properties., etc.
Contact us!
- Do you have any unanswered questions? We’re here to help! We can offer guidance and support for your silicone product design journey.
- Need a second opinion on your design? We provide free design reviews.
- Already have a finalized design ready for manufacturing or prototyping? We offer full-service options from mold creation to finished goods.
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