Powerful Alternative to Thermoplastics or Thermosets
The stability requirements for two-component molded parts have increased steadily in many sectors over recent years. At the same time, the cost pressure in injection molding is on the rise, so that the materials used must ensure high production efficiency. Innovations such as the new ELASTOSIL® LR 3003/90 liquid silicone rubber offer savings potential. With an exceptionally high Shore hardness, the novel silicone grade is ideal for cost-effective large-scale production of dimensionally stable silicone products and thus offers customers an optimum price/performance ratio. Furthermore, ELASTOSIL® LR 3003/90 features properties typical of silicones: aging and heat resistance, inherent flame retardancy, UV resistance, etc.
Elastic & Dimensionally Stable
For some time now, ELASTOSIL® LR 3003 liquid silicone rubber grades have taken the pole position when tremendous Shore hardness is at stake. Possible hardness levels range from 3 to 85 Shore A. The new product outperforms all other liquid silicone elastomers in hardness and rigidity. Due to its properties, the cured material almost falls into the transition zone between an elastomer and a thermoset. On the one hand, the cured rubber still possesses a certain degree of elasticity, but, on the other, it features very high dimensional stability for an elastomer. It has a hardness of 90 Shore A or – measured with a Shore-D tester – 33 Shore D. Alongside this hardness, which was previously unattained with liquid silicone rubber, ELASTOSIL® LR 3003/90 features an exceptionally high modulus. It is more rigid – and thus able to withstand deformation better – than the cured products of all previous liquid silicone rubber grades.
Powerful Alternative to Thermoplastics or Thermosets
Due to its high level of hardness and rigidity, the new silicone grade can be used as an alternative to thermoplastics or thermosets. The product is suitable as a hard substrate in two-component molded parts, for example. It is also possible to manufacture hard/soft combinations that consist of ELASTOSIL® LR 3003/90 and other, softer silicones. Molded parts made of ELASTOSIL® LR 3003/90 offer good resistance to aging and heat, weathering and UV.
Short Cycle Times & High Productivity
ELASTOSIL® LR 3003/90 – Key Features at a Glance
- Extremely high Shore hardness: 90 Shore A I
- 33 Shore D
- High-modulus elastomer: high dimensional stability
- Low coefficient of friction (COF)
- First-class results in injection molding
- Ideal as an alternative to plastics
- Suitable for hard/soft liquid silicone rubber solutions
ELASTOSIL® LR 3003/90 can be processed with high precision and virtually without waste by injection molding. Rubber processors can achieve short cycle times and thus high productivity. Compared to standard silicone elastomers of lower hardness, the surfaces of molded parts made of ELASTOSIL® LR 3003/90 display relatively low surface resistance. The lack of a non-slip effect opens up potential technical applications that had previously not been possible with liquid silicones. The low frictional resistance is particularly beneficial when silicone parts and parts made of metal or plastic move against each other, as is the case with mechanical seals – so-called dynamic seals – for example. ELASTOSIL® LR 3003/90 is transparent and can be pigmented in any color. The cured rubber features a well-balanced mechanical property profile and can be used at temperatures ranging from –55 to +210 degrees Celsius.