Liquid injection molding

LSR is usually fashioned into molds or products through a process known as liquid injection molding. During this process, the silicone rubber is loaded into a plunger and pumped into a mixer, along with a catalyst and any coloring materials or other chemical additions.   　　A device called the metering unit allows the mixing reaction to be carefully controlled, as it maintains a slow release of the silicone rubber and the catalyst in accurate quantities. The catalyst, which typically contains platinum, activates the silicone rubber, causing it to harden once the mixture is pumped into the mold. After that the mold is sealed closed with a mold clamp until the silicone rubber is set, and then it is removed and the silicone rubber product is almost complete.   　　The liquid injection molding technique allows for more thorough and uniform mixing of the silicone rubber in its liquid form. This makes the finished silicone rubber products to be chemically and structurally consistent throughout, and it also means that separate products that have the same mixing formula will be more consistent with each other when manufactured in this way. The process also allows for faster setting times for the LSR rubber.