Why do silicone rubber products always crack?

Why do silicone rubber products always crack?
Silicone rubber products keep cracking? Let’s thoroughly explain the reasons and solutions at once.

With the advantages of resistance to high and low temperatures and strong weather resistance, silicone rubber is widely used in automotive, electronics, medical and other fields. However, many users find that silicone rubber products crack after being used for a while, which not only affects their service life but may also lead to equipment failures. In fact, once the reasons are clarified, it can be easily solved.

There are mainly 6 reasons for the cracking of silicone rubber products: First, aging. After long-term exposure to ultraviolet rays, ozone, and temperature changes, the material will harden, its elasticity will decrease, and then it will crack. Second, erosion by chemical substances or moisture. For example, contact with strong acids and alkalis, or long-term contact with liquids, will corrode silicone rubber. Third, excessive stretching or compression during use, exceeding its designed bearing range. Fourth, poor production processes. Unqualified raw materials, incorrect formulas, and insufficient vulcanization will greatly reduce the durability of the products. Fifth, environmental impact. Too humid or too dry environments will make silicone rubber brittle. Sixth, improper use. If it is not used in accordance with the operating specifications, its performance will naturally decline.

There are 5 ways to prevent silicone rubber products from cracking: First, choose appropriate materials. Select corresponding silicone rubber according to the usage scenario, such as high-performance silicone rubber for high-temperature scenarios and medical-grade silicone rubber for the medical field. Second, control working conditions. Try to avoid high temperatures, strong chemical substances, and strong ultraviolet rays. Third, do a good job in daily maintenance. Regularly check for cracks and replace aging parts in a timely manner. Fourth, optimize the production process. Qualified raw materials should be selected, and the vulcanization process must be strictly controlled. Fifth, pay attention to storage conditions. Store them in a cool and dry place, avoid direct sunlight, and keep them away from excessive humidity.

If you encounter the problem of cracking silicone rubber products, whether in the automotive, electronics, or medical fields, click on the online customer service or call directly, tell us your usage scenario, and we will analyze the reasons for free and customize solutions, making your silicone rubber products durable and worry-free!

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Always stumbling when designing silicone buttons and not knowing how to design them?

Always stumbling when designing silicone buttons and not knowing how to design them?

No ideas for silicone button design? This full-process practical solution helps you avoid pitfalls.

Silicone buttons, with their comfortable touch, durability, and water resistance, have become a “standard configuration” in electronics, home appliances, and medical equipment. However, to avoid detours in designing silicone buttons, it is essential to grasp the key steps from conception to mass production, and this guide will explain them thoroughly.

Step 1: Market Research – First, thoroughly understand user needs. For example, medical buttons need to be antibacterial, and home appliance buttons must be durable. Then, analyze competitors to find differences. After research, a medical manufacturer chose medical-grade silicone, and the praise rate of the product increased by 35% after launch.

Step 2: Design Conception – Draw sketches to determine the shape and layout, use CAD for 3D modeling, and check for structural issues in advance to ensure manufacturability.

Step 3: Material Selection – Choose the type of silicone button (ordinary, medical, high-temperature resistant) according to the scenario. A hardness of 30-80 Shore A is suitable for the touch, and colors can be customized to fit the brand.

Step 4: Functional Design – Set operation logics such as short press and long press, and optimize feedback through the shape and depth of the silicone buttons to make user operations more convenient.

Step 5: Prototype Testing – 3D print prototypes to test interaction and touch, and adjust the design based on feedback.

Step 6: Production Preparation – Select die-casting or injection molding processes, and find reliable suppliers to ensure materials and delivery time.

Step 7: Production Quality Control – Monitor the production line closely, and conduct both appearance and function inspections on finished products to eliminate defective products.

Step 8: Market Iteration – Collect user feedback. After optimizing button feedback, a certain electronics manufacturer saw a 28% increase in repurchase rate and continued to upgrade its products.

Whether you are designing silicone buttons in the electronics, home appliance, or medical fields and encounter problems with materials, structure, or production? Click on online customer service or call us, inform us of your needs, and we will provide free design plans and technical support to help you efficiently create good products!

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How to make silicone hoses last longer?

How to make silicone hoses last longer?

Is your silicone hose prone to damage? Learn these tricks to make it durable and save money

Silicone hoses are widely used in household, food, medical, and industrial fields because they are resistant to high and low temperatures (-60℃ to 200℃), chemically corrosion-resistant, flexible, non-toxic, and odorless (meeting food-grade standards). However, many people find that “they break before reaching their expected service life”. In fact, using the correct methods can make them more durable.

Silicone hoses are made of siloxane polymers, and some are translucent, making it easy to observe the fluid inside the tube. The food industry uses them to transport raw materials to ensure safety; medical equipment relies on them for connections to maintain hygiene; industrial machines use them as pipelines to withstand high temperatures and pressures; and household water heaters and water pipes also cannot do without them.

However, after long-term use, silicone hoses are prone to aging and clogging. Aging is mostly caused by long-term exposure to sunlight or contact with strong acids and alkalis; clogging is due to the accumulation of dirt and sediments inside the tube. To address aging, avoid direct sunlight (use a sunshade cloth to cover), keep away from highly corrosive substances, and regularly inspect the surface. If there are cracks or discoloration, replace them in time. To solve clogging, regularly clean with warm water and a soft brush, or use diluted vinegar water/baking soda water to dissolve oil stains. For stubborn clogs, directly replace the hose.

To extend their service life, do not over-twist or stretch them during installation; keep the hoses in a natural state, and ensure the connections are well-sealed to prevent leaks. Regular maintenance is also crucial: straighten them to check for damage, rinse the inner wall with clean water to keep it unobstructed, and apply lubricant at the interfaces to prevent rust and aging. When in use, do not exceed their pressure and temperature bearing capacity. In extreme environments, choose hoses of higher specifications or use multiple hoses in parallel to distribute the load. When storing, place them in a cool and dry place, avoiding exposure to sunlight and moisture; for long-term storage, clean and dry them, and use a reel/stand to roll them up gently without stretching or folding them into sharp angles.

Whether you use silicone hoses in household, food, medical, or industrial scenarios and want them to be more durable, click on the online customer service or call directly, tell us your usage needs, and we will provide you with free customized adaptation tips and selection suggestions to make silicone products last longer and more worry-free~

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What are the differences between X-type seals and O-type seals?

What are the differences between X-type seals and O-type seals?

Total fluid leakage from equipment? Here’s the difference between X-type seals and O-rings. Industrial equipment often leaks fluid and requires frequent rework? Most of the time, it’s because the wrong seal was chosen! Many people can’t tell the difference between X-type seals and O-rings, but in fact, there’s a big difference between the two. Choosing the right one—X-type seals—can save you a lot of trouble.

There’s a factory in Zhejiang that manufactures heavy machinery. They used to use O-rings for high-pressure piston pumps at 31.5MPa. Just repairing fluid leaks cost over 20,000 yuan every month, and they were also worried about non-compliance due to hydraulic oil leaks. After replacing them with X-type seals, the leakage problem disappeared completely. Its cross-section is X-shaped, with four “lips” that can tightly fit the sealing surface. Its extrusion resistance is 30% stronger than that of O-rings. Even if the pressure fluctuates, it can still seal tightly, allowing the equipment to run continuously for 60 days without maintenance, whereas before it could only last 15 days.

Another example is a new energy vehicle parts factory in Shandong. After replacing the seals in their servo cylinders with X-type ones, the machine’s friction was reduced by 20%, and it didn’t get as hot. The frequency of replacing seals decreased from once every 3 months to once every 8 months, saving 60% of maintenance costs a year. Moreover, during installation, X-type seals are not as prone to twisting as O-rings. There were almost no errors during production line installation, and the qualification rate increased from 85% to 99.5%.

Whether it’s hydraulic pipelines in mining machinery, battery cooling systems in new energy vehicles, or pipelines carrying food fluids, compared with traditional O-rings, X-type seals can withstand high pressure, have low friction, and are easy to install. Now, many devices have chosen them. Does your equipment also have problems with fluid leakage and high maintenance costs? Tell us about your equipment’s pressure, the medium used, and its operating conditions, and we can help for free. Click on the online customer service or call us to get a suitable sealing solution!

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Silicone folding bowls vs ordinary silicone bowls: How do technical differences determine applicable scenarios?

Silicone folding bowls vs ordinary silicone bowls: How do technical differences determine applicable scenarios?

Choosing a silicone bowl: The technical details of foldable and regular models hide the tricks of usage scenarios

Silicone bowls (regular vs. collapsible) are both safe and temperature-resistant, so why do some people regret buying them after purchase? Many people make random choices and end up with bowls that either can’t fit in outdoor bags or deform when heated at home. The key is that they don’t understand the 3 core technical differences! A parent-child camping organization in Chengdu encountered problems: they provided regular silicone bowls to 200 families, and 65% of the parents complained that “they can’t fit into children’s backpacks and have to be carried separately,” resulting in a loss of nearly 3,000 yuan from returns and exchanges. It was only after switching to collapsible bowls that they realized: a bowl with a 12cm diameter, thanks to the “circular folding groove + gradient wall thickness” design, can shrink from the size of a fist to the size of an egg (5cm in diameter, 12mm in thickness), reducing the storage volume by 70%, leaving space in the backpack for baby wipes. The regular bowl, with an integrated open mouth, is more suitable for home use as a complementary food bowl, which is convenient for holding porridge and rice paste without spilling.

The folding resistance is vastly different! When mothers take their children out, silicone collapsible bowls are folded 25-30 times a month. High-quality ones use “two-stage vulcanization + anti-tear additives,” and after 12,000 folds, there are no cracks, and the mechanical properties only decrease by less than 5%. Regular bowls, when folded forcefully, can crack after 3 tries by some mothers, trapping oil stains that are hard to clean, so they have to be thrown away.

Want to put it in the microwave? Check the uniformity of wall thickness! Regular silicone bowls have a wall thickness difference of 0.3-0.8mm, resulting in a temperature difference of 30℃ between thin and thick parts when heating food. Some office workers have had small pits formed when heating soup. Collapsible bowls use “mold temperature zone control,” with a wall thickness difference of ≤0.2mm, and a temperature difference of <5℃ when heated at 230℃, making them safe for heating complementary foods and lunch boxes.

Worried about choosing the wrong silicone bowl for your scenario? Click on the online customer service, send your needs, and get help selecting the right model for free! The first 50 consultors will receive the “Silicone Bowl Pitfall Avoidance Guide.” Don’t buy blindly and waste money anymore~

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Don’t just look at the price when purchasing liquid silicone overmolding! These 3 hidden parameters are the key to quality.

Don’t just look at the price when purchasing liquid silicone overmolding! These 3 hidden parameters are the key to quality

Purchase of liquid silicone overmolding: 3 core parameters determine the quality of the finished product

 

Liquid silicone overmolding, with its excellent sealing performance (IP68 waterproof rating) and skin-friendly, soft touch experience, has become a “standard process” for products such as medical catheters, maternal and infant products, and electronic components. However, many manufacturers focus solely on the quotation when purchasing, while ignoring three hidden parameters that determine the quality of the finished product. As a result, either the defective rate of the finished product soars to more than 15%, or there are frequent after-sales disputes later, leading to a sharp drop in customer repurchase rate.

Take a medical enterprise in Shenzhen that produces insulin pump components as an example. Initially, to control costs, it chose low-cost liquid silicone overmolding materials. As a result, during ethylene oxide sterilization (high-temperature and high-humidity environment), the overmolding layer peeled off from the substrate on a large scale. Later, after replacing with a liquid silicone overmolding material with better compatibility, it was found that the problem lay in the “adhesion” parameter – high-quality materials, through formula optimization, can firmly adhere to substrates such as PC and stainless steel, and will not delaminate even after high-temperature sterilization.

In addition to adhesion, the “temperature resistance range” also has many considerations. Take the automotive electronics field as an example. Components often need to switch between -40℃ (outdoor temperature in severe winter) and 120℃ (temperature around the engine). If the temperature resistance range of liquid silicone overmolding is narrow, after alternating cold and heat, the material is prone to becoming brittle and cracking. However, reliable quality liquid silicone overmolding has a temperature resistance range covering -50℃ to 150℃, which can meet the needs of most industrial scenarios.

There is also the “fluidity” parameter, which directly affects the overmolding effect of products with complex structures. An enterprise in Dongguan that produces smart bracelets has learned a lesson: the previously used material had poor fluidity, so the overmolding on the edge of the bracelet case was always uneven in thickness, and there were even gaps due to insufficient glue. After replacing with liquid silicone with excellent fluidity, the material can fill tiny gaps like water, making the edges and corners of the finished product round and uniform.

If you want to avoid these pitfalls when purchasing liquid silicone overmolding, welcome to talk to Aobo Silicone Rubber – we specialize in optimizing core parameters to make the quality of overmolded products more stable. Click on the online customer service or call us to help you choose the right material and avoid more pitfalls~

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Factory seal keeps leaking? Choose Aobo silicone O-rings to solve 90% of leakage problems

Is the original factory sealing ring always leaking? Choose Aobo silicone O-rings to solve 90% of water leakage problems.

Is the O-ring always breaking? Aobo Silicone teaches you how to choose the right O-ring to extend its service life

 

Many factories encounter issues such as “leakage, aging cracks, and inability to withstand high temperatures and pressures” just a few days after purchasing O-ring seals. However, Engineer Mr. Wang from an automotive parts factory in Dongguan has no such worries—ever since switching to Aobo Silicone’s O-rings, leakage failures in engine oil seals and brake systems have almost dropped to zero. Why are Aobo Silicone’s O-rings so durable? The key lies in two factors: first, their innovative sealing design—when the circular cross-section is compressed, it can tightly lock even in narrow spaces, preventing the infiltration of oil, water, or gas. Second, the diversity of their materials—fluororubber can withstand high temperatures of 200°C and chemical corrosion, making it ideal for automotive engines; silicone material provides high cleanliness, suitable for medical syringes and food machinery; metal composite materials can withstand ultra-high pressure, even usable in aerospace hydraulic systems. From preventing leakage in automotive fuel systems to air sealing in household appliance compressors, from critical aerospace seals to liquid control in general machinery, Aobo Silicone’s O-rings can meet your needs. For example, a dishwasher manufacturer in Shandong used to frequently encounter leakage problems with standard O-rings, but after switching to Aobo Silicone’s products, the repair and rework rate decreased by 45%.

Still struggling with O-ring leaks and poor durability? Ober Silicone specializes in sealing solutions with 23 years of experience, offering customizable sizes and materials. Click to inquire—achieve stable and cost-effective equipment sealing!

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