There are many different kinds of rubber molding methods, but one of the most common is injection rubber molding. Most rubber manufacturers utilize injection rubber molding to create custom and standard parts. This is an excellent method for high volume production and intricate parts. Manufacturers can choose from a variety of materials and complete rubber to metal bonding for vibration control and equipment safety. Continue reading to learn more about injection molding process, materials, benefits, applications and more.
Rubber Injection Molding Process
The injection rubber molding process is made up of a few steps. Here is how the injection rubber molding process works:
- Uncured rubber is fed into the screw of the injection molding machine
- Uncured rubber is pulled into the injector
- The uncured rubber is liquidized at a high temperature
- The liquid polymer is injected into the injection mold cavity through a runner and gate
- The rubber material is cured and vulcanized at a high pressure and temperature
- The rubber part is removed from the mold cavity
The machine that is used to create injection molded rubber parts is fairly large. However, it is able to manufacture a rubber product at high speed and precision, making it an excellent way to mass produce any kind of rubber part required.
Materials for Injection Molding
One thing that manufacturers love about injection rubber molding is the ability to use a variety of materials. When it comes to rubber molding, manufacturers will choose from a few different polymers:
- Natural rubber
- Silicone
- Nitrile rubber
- Fluorosilicone
- Liquid silicone rubber
Most commonly, the rubber gaskets or other rubber or polymer parts will be used for vibration control or to protect machines. Whatever their ultimate use, they are typically put into operation after being bonded to the equipment or a mount. This is called rubber to metal bonding. Here are some of the most common metals used for rubber to metal bonding in injection molding:
- Aluminum
- Copper
- Brass
- Steel
- Beryllium
A manufacturer will choose a material depending on its intended use and the properties it needs to have and maintain. If the part needs to be strong and durable, they may choose a nitrile rubber rather than a silicone.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Injection Molding
As with any rubber molding process, there are many advantages as well as disadvantages. A manufacturer should choose a molding process based on what they need for the part and for production. Take a look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of injection rubber molding:
Advantages of Injection Rubber Molding
There are many benefits to using injection molding over compression molding or transfer molding. Here is a list of some of these benefits:
- High precision
- Allows for more intricate designs
- Quick cycle time
- Elimination of preforms
- Less flash and rubber waste
- More options for durometer shores
- Fits almost exactly to the mold
- Great for high volume production needs
Companies that want to produce a high volume of quality parts in a short amount of time should choose injection rubber molding. With injection molding, OEMs get their part quickly and customers get a quality product.
Disadvantages of Injection Rubber Molding
Injection rubber molding is not always the best choice for every part. Some manufacturers prefer to use compression or transfer molding instead. These are some of the disadvantages of using injection rubber molding:
- Machinery is more expensive than other molding machines
- Not well suited for small batches
- Some elastomers are not suited for injection molding
- Works best for small parts rather than large parts
Sometimes, injection rubber molding is not the right option. For example, if a manufacturer is trying to mold a tire, then injection molding may not be the right method. Smaller sized, high volume parts are best for injection rubber molding.
Injection Rubber Molding Applications and Industries
There are many uses for parts that are created using injection molding. Here is a list of some of the industries that use injection molded rubber parts and what they use them for:
- Construction: seals, gaskets, vibration control, grommets, tubing
- Automotive: transmission, engine parts, valves, extrusions
- Defense: weapon parts, vibration, noise control, seals
- Mass Transit: brakes, steering, tubing, electrical wiring covers, engine parts
- Medical: tubing, ventilation masks, medical equipment, seals
- Agriculture: seals, vibration control, noise control, bushings, suspension
There are many different uses for molded rubber parts. Some manufacturers even produce custom parts so that OEMs can receive the exact part that they need.
Custom Molded Rubber Manufacturer
One common way that manufacturers produce high volume custom parts is through injection molding. If you are looking for a company that produces high quality custom parts and standard parts, look no further than RPM Industrial Rubber Parts. We have a long list of parts in our catalog, including:
- Grommets
- Bushings
- Seals
- Vibration control
- Extrusions and tubing
- And more
If you cannot find what you need, then you can get it custom made with our team. We will walk you through the process so that you are completely satisfied with the final result. If you want to take a look at our catalog or start our custom part process, give us a call at (888) 842-5668 or contact us online.