Factors affecting the wear resistance life of silicone rubber products.

Characteristics of the material itself

Hardness: Silicone rubber products with high hardness usually have good wear resistance. Because harder materials are less prone to scratches and wear when subjected to friction, they can better resist the effects of external friction. For example, in some industrial seals that require significant friction, high hardness silicone rubber seals have a relatively longer service life.

Formula ingredients: The type and quality of the base adhesive are key factors. The molecular structure and purity of silicone rubber base adhesives produced by different manufacturers may vary, which can affect the wear resistance of the products. High quality silicone rubber base adhesive often has better molecular chain regularity and strength, thereby improving wear resistance and lifespan.

Crosslinking density: With an increase in cross-linking density, the connections between the molecular chains of silicone rubber become tighter, forming a more stable spatial network structure. This enhances the hardness and strength of the material, thereby improving its wear resistance. However, excessive cross-linking density may cause the material to become brittle, affecting its wear resistance and lifespan.

Processing technology

Molding process: During injection molding, parameters such as temperature, pressure, and time of the mold have a significant impact on the wear resistance of silicone rubber products. Appropriate mold temperature can ensure uniform vulcanization of silicone rubber, making the internal structure of the product more dense; Insufficient pressure may lead to the presence of bubbles or incomplete sulfurization areas inside the product, reducing wear resistance.

Sulfurization process: The control of vulcanization temperature and time is crucial. Excessive temperature or time can cause the molecular chains of silicone rubber to crosslink excessively, becoming brittle and reducing wear resistance; If the temperature is too low or the time is too short, it may lead to incomplete vulcanization, poor product performance, and also affect the wear resistance life.

Usage environment

Friction medium: The properties of the friction medium in contact with silicone rubber products vary, and their degree of wear on the products also varies. For example, in environments containing abrasive particles such as dust, metal shavings, etc., these particles can scratch and wear the surface of silicone rubber during friction, accelerating the damage of the product.

Temperature conditions: Temperature has a significant impact on the wear resistance of silicone rubber. In high temperature environments, the activity of silicone rubber molecular chains increases, causing the material to become soft and prone to deformation and wear. Under low temperature conditions, silicone rubber becomes brittle, its impact resistance decreases, and its wear life is also affected.

Humidity factor: In a humid environment, moisture may penetrate into the interior of silicone rubber products, causing the material to expand, soften, or undergo hydrolysis reactions, thereby reducing its wear resistance. Especially in situations where silicone rubber products are immersed in water for a long time or frequently in contact with water, such as underwater equipment seals, insulation layers of wires and cables in humid environments, the wear resistance life of silicone rubber products will be greatly affected.