What is Rubber Molding?
Rubber molding refers to the various molding processes that turn uncured rubber compounds into complete rubber products. These materials possess characteristics that make them suitable for use in many products, including their chemical and environmental compatibility and their resilience and ability to return to their original molded shape without damage after being stretched or otherwise distorted. Rubber materials can be derived from natural or synthetic sources and are available in a wide range of formulations, each of which enhances or minimizes resulting material characteristics – these can be tailored according to the needs of the intended application.
The standard rubber molding process employs a steel or aluminum mold custom-designed to make the part of choice and into which raw material is placed or injected. Once the material finds the cavity that forms the parts geometry, the application of heat and pressure initiates the vulcanization process and forms the raw material into a finished product.
Depending on the material and intended use of the final product, manufacturers can employ different variations of the rubber molding process, including:
- Compression molding
- Transfer molding
- Injection molding
Rubber Molding Applications
Due to their precision and durability, custom rubber molded products find use in applications across a wide range of industries. Some common components by industry include:
- Aerospace: seal and gaskets
- Automotive: seals, gaskets, and electrical enclosure weather seals
- Construction: architectural and window seals, fiberoptic sheathes, and outdoor electrical enclosures
- Consumer and commercial goods: scratchproof feet for appliances
- Food processing: oven, cart, kitchen, and dairy equipment seals
- General industrial: backflow preventers, bellows, elastomeric check valves, electrical connectors seals, ordinance seals, and water purification and filtration seals
- Medical: grommets, seals, surgical devices, fluid path components and grips.
Rubber Molding Benefits
- Elimination of most labor saves time and cost and adds machine driven consistency.
- Machine driven processing of the raw material allows for faster production times.
- Injection molding can be more cost-effective.
- Compression and Transfer molding have advantages.
