What is rubber mold?

01What is rubber mold?

Rubber molds are mainly used in process environments that require enhanced molding pressure or the transmission of molding pressure. Rubber molds are very useful when it is difficult for a vacuum bag to enter the recessed area of a complex mold cavity. In the fixed volume method, the parts and rubber materials are completely surrounded by a flexible metal frame, and the expansion of the rubber can effectively subject the part to a uniform fluid pressure. In the variable volume method, a vacuum bag or a soft and flexible uniform pressure plate covers the rubber mold, so that the volume of the rubber mold is no longer required to be accurately calculated. The most basic form of a rubber mold is as a simple template between the vacuum bag and the part, or as a rubber pad for a difficult-to-compact part of the part.

02Types of rubber molds Rubber molds are divided into four common molds according to the mold structure and product production process: compression molding molds, die-casting molds, injection molding molds, and extrusion molding molds.

1). Compression molding molds are also called ordinary compression molds. It is to put the semi-finished rubber compound that has been mixed, processed into a certain shape and weighed directly into the mold, and then sent to the flat vulcanizer for pressurization and heating. The rubber compound is vulcanized and formed under pressure and heating.

2) Die-casting molds are also called transfer molds or extrusion molds. It puts the mixed, simple-shaped, limited rubber compound or rubber block semi-finished product into the die-casting mold cavity, squeezes the rubber compound through the pressure of the die-casting plug, and allows the rubber compound to enter the mold cavity through the pouring system for vulcanization and shaping.

3) Injection molding molds are used to inject the preheated rubber compound into the plastic state through the injection mold pouring system for shaping and vulcanization.

4) The extrusion molding mold is made into rubber profile semi-finished products of various cross-sectional shapes through the molding mold of the die head to achieve the purpose of preliminary shaping, and then it is cooled and shaped and transported to the vulcanization tank for vulcanization or used as the pre-molded semi-finished rubber compound required for the compression molding method.

03 Advantages of rubber molds

1) Rubber molds are very stable at room temperature and easy to solidify. They are suitable for extension but not easily deformed. And the materials are mostly base rubber or catalysts, etc. The raw materials can be obtained very conveniently and can be mass-produced.

2) Rubber molds are non-toxic. When using new materials, non-toxicity is an important consideration.

3) Rubber molds have very good demoulding properties, and have excellent fluidity when entering the mold.

4) Rubber molds are very suitable for mold making, and can also control vulcanization so that the speed does not affect the demoulding effect too fast. Rubber molds have a good degree of simulation, reducing the labor of a large number of modifications later. It is also very fast in mold making. 5. The rubber mold has a simple structure, strong versatility, wide application range, and easy operation. 6. Rubber molds have high production efficiency, stable quality, and automated production.