Investigations on the processing of solid silicon rubber in blow moulding

Abstract

Complex hollow parts made of thermoplastics are often produced in the extrusion blow moulding process. This cost-efficient production technique with a high reproducibility, a high degree of automation and short cycle times has not been adapted for rubber processing until now. Current research activities at IKV focus on the processing of silicone rubber in extrusion blow moulding with an adapted processing and rapid cross-linking systems. The blow moulding process allows an automated and effective production of complex hollow parts made of solid silicone rubber in one step. The use of expensive core techniques, which lead to comparatively high reject rates in injection moulding, is not necessary. Expensive and time-consuming assembly steps can be reduced. This substantially increases the efficiency of the process.A systematic material selection of different solid silicone rubber compounds and cross-linking systems for the extrusion blow moulding process is a major focus of investigation. In this context, the term blow mouldability of polymers is defined and the suitability of solid silicone rubbers in combination with cross-linking systems for the blow moulding process is analysed. Characteristic mechanical and physical properties allow the identification of suitable material systems and give advice for the implementation of the new process. Extrusion blow moulding of solid silicone rubber is a new and innovative manufacturing concept to produce elastomeric hollow parts. Influences on the forming process are not known for silicone rubber yet. Therefore, to obtain a detailed process description is another focus of the research project. This includes the forming process, the processing and the influences of the material and the curing reaction on the processing. In the first instance, the investigation and description of the forming process as well as the detailed analysis of the processing parameters, such as curing time, mould temperature, wall thickness of the product or stretch ratio, are studied in the thermoforming process and show the potential of the material to be processed into hollow parts using compressed air. The transfer of the results to the blow moulding process will also be content of research.