Table of Contents
Introduction
LSR is an abbreviation for Liquid Silicone Rubber; as the name suggests, it is naturally found in a liquid state of matter; later, as per usage, it is molded and converted into a solid state. It is resistant to temperature and strong chemicals. LSR is made through molding. The shape of the products made up of LSR can be recreated multiple times. It has boomed due to its soft touch, texture, firm grip, and versatile aesthetics. It consists of two parts: one is the silicone base, and the other is a curing agent. It can be molded and reformed into multiple sizes and complex shapes.
LSR has self-lubricating properties, making it long-lasting as it doesn’t wear off easily. It can be molded into complex designs with the finest details due to its fine quality. It has the best features, like viscosity, soft touch, and being non-toxic. LSR can undergo any temperature and water extremities. It is water-repellent, making it effective in waterproofing applications. Liquid Silicone Rubber has a lot of uses on Earth, such as in the medical industry, automotive industry, and consumer goods like phone covers.
Application of LSR in Different Industries
Let us explore the medical industry. LSR is used to make pacemakers, hydraulic shunts, menstrual cups, and plastic surgery. It is also used in plastic surgeries for the reformation of features such as lips, cheeks, buttocks, wrists, hands, and feet. Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) has been introduced to the culinary industry. It is also used in food-grade products such as spatulas, baking cups, and baking mats, as LSR doesn’t react with food-grade products. It doesn’t melt or drain in the food. It is a great substance to be used in the food grade due to its non-sticky properties. LSR has been introduced in the world of 3D printing.
Features of LSR
LSR should be sourced high quality, as its quality affects the final product’s sustainability and durability. The quality of the final product is directly proportional to the raw material because high-quality liquid silicone rubber promises better durability, a life-long working product, and reduced waste, increasing customer satisfaction.
Factors to Consider When Buying Liquid Silicone Rubber
You don’t go to the market and get liquid silicone rubber; you need certain knowledge and check a few features before buying. Initially, you need to check its physical properties. You need to determine its hardness suitable for your application; it can be soft to firm. It is important to identify the tear strength as well before buying LSR. Then comes the most crucial factor: temperature resistance. You need to ensure LSR can undergo maximum temperature-induced flexibility at low temperatures.
Moreover, check how it reacts with different chemicals or solvents that will come into contact with your application. Ensure LSR complies with relevant industry standards such as FDA, RoHS, etc. An important factor when buying liquid silicone rubber is that one needs to evaluate the cost; mostly LSR is budget-friendly due to its multiple great features. LSR has a low viscosity, which makes it an attractive product in the market as it flows easily and can be molded into various complex shapes with the finest details. LSR has a reduced risk of air entrapment. LSRs are also convenient to mix due to their low viscosity. Make sure that viscosity is compatible with your final product.
Tips for First-Time Buyers
The material should always align with your specific requirements when purchasing liquid silicone rubber in bulk. Some suppliers provide potential customers with a small sample for testing; you may contact those suppliers. You better specify your requirements for the colors, hardness, softness, and many other properties to the suppliers. The product’s compatibility is checked by running the sample through your production process to identify how liquid silicone rubber behaves and flows.
Mechanical properties like tear and tensile strength should also be tested to determine if they meet your standards. Check its resistance to cold and heat and then evaluate the LSR’s performance per your requirement. Chemical compatibility should also be tested if, in the future, it will encounter any strong chemicals. Shrinkage should also be measured. Also, measure the change in dimensions.
What To Do When Purchasing LSR?
As liquid silicone rubber will undergo many soft processes like assembling, painting, crafting, and bonding, you better test LSR’s compatibility with these. Technical support is important for the customers during testing. Ask for multiple samples to evaluate the consistency and authenticity of liquid silicone rubber. Before purchasing a full bulk, produce the final product with the help of the provided samples by the suppliers to avoid unfavorable circumstances in the future.
When you purchase liquid silicone rubber, you should consult first instead of regretting it later. As there are different types of LSR available, and with the help of expert advice that will bestow you with technical insights, you will foresee the type of LSR you need. Experienced people know the challenges you might not have considered and offer a solution or an alternative that best suits you. They will guide you to the quality benchmark in the modern era of liquid silicone rubber and connect you to trusted suppliers.
They can also suggest the best curing conditions, mixing techniques, or properties to consider the most while choosing effective LSR. They can also recommend the best reputation suppliers which helps you to save time and resources. Experts can guide you with cost-benefit analysis, material selection, over-purchasing, risk mitigation, curing, and performance are provided. The supply chain gets reliable; you get the best quality in time, which does not disturb your production time.
Buying from manufacturers
The approach of buying directly from the manufacturers is that you are offered some time to work with their technical team to game up your specific requirements. They offer the latest innovations and cutting-edge materials. Buying in bulk reduces the cost significantly per unit and provides discounts on larger volumes purchased. The resolution of the technical problems is by direct manufacturers and a complete guide on processing liquid Silicone Rubber.
Buying from the Distributors
On the contrary, the distributors act as intermediaries between the manufacturer and the buyers. Their role is to make LSR accessible to a wide range of populations and have stock availability. You can have a small amount of stock and buffer with the manufacturer’s lead time, providing quicker delivery to the customer. They also offer a variety of liquid silicone rubber from various manufacturers, allowing you to choose the best one according to your formulations. Unfortunately, they add markups to the product and sell standard formulations that may be not so flexible as they sell pre-stocked products, and the supply chain can cause delays.
Conclusion
Liquid silicone rubber is a flexible material. It doesn’t cause any harm to the skin as it is hypoallergenic, so it’s getting into trend day by day. It is a silicone elastomer type used for multiple purposes due to its flexibility, stretch, durability, and resistance. Distributors and manufacturers play a vital role in the LSR supply chain in terms of cost, technical support, cost, and delivery time. LSR is also available online, like on Amazon and Alibaba.