Austrian machine maker Engel has widened the opportunities for multi-component technology with a new process for silicone vulcanisation at low temperatures, which it showcased at a symposium by producing wine bottle stoppers.
Whereas conventional silicone rubbers require high temperatures for cross-linking, the new types vulcanise with exposure to light in the ultraviolet wavelength range at room temperature. This enables silicones to be combined with a wide range of thermoplastics via two-component and multi-component injection moulding. Even temperature-sensitive materials such as PP can now be processed with silicone in a single step.
Cavity inserts in the injection mould that are permeable to light are the prerequisite for UV vulcanisation. For this application, Austrian mould maker Elmetutilises translucent plastic inserts for UV light and integrates UV lamps into the mould for irradiation.
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