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How Method Matters: The Impact of Material Characterisation Techniques on Liquid Silicone Rubber Injection Moulding
Maurício Azevedo1, Silvester Bolka2, Clemens Holzer3
1Polymer Competence Center Leoben GmbH, 8700 Leoben, Austria.
Polymers
|November 27, 2025
Summary
Accurate material data is crucial for reliable liquid silicone rubber (LSR) injection moulding simulations. This study highlights how specific heat capacity and curing kinetics characterization methods significantly impact simulation accuracy and cycle time predictions.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Engineering
- Computational Modeling
Background:
- Injection moulding of liquid silicone rubber (LSR) relies on accurate computer-aided engineering (CAE) simulations for process optimization.
- Simulation fidelity is directly dependent on the quality and relevance of material data used.
- Existing characterization methods often adapt thermoplastic approaches without fully addressing LSR-specific limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically characterize the thermo-physical and kinetic properties of a highly filled injection moulding grade LSR.
- To critically assess the impact of different material characterization techniques on simulation fidelity.
- To establish a methodological framework for improving the reliability of LSR injection moulding simulations.
Main Methods:
- Specific heat capacity measured using modulated Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and the sapphire method.
- Thermal conductivity assessed across the processing temperature range.
- Curing kinetics investigated via calorimetry and rheology.
Main Results:
- Specific heat capacity showed temperature dependence but no change during curing; sapphire method data better reflected enthalpic effects for process prediction.
- Thermal conductivity remained relatively constant.
- Calorimetry suggested an autocatalytic curing mechanism, while rheology indicated an nth-order model.
- Viscosity primarily influenced injection pressures; specific heat capacity and curing kinetics significantly affected predicted curing profiles and cycle times.
Conclusions:
- Dataset choice, especially for curing parameters, is critical for predictive accuracy in LSR injection moulding simulations.
- The study introduces an organized, comparative methodology to evaluate characterization technique influence on simulations.
- This framework can guide future research and enhance the reliability of process simulations for LSR and other polymers.
Keywords:
curing kineticsinjection mouldingliquid silicone rubberprocessing simulation accuracyspecific heat capacityspecific volumethermal conductivityMore Related Videos
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