Infinite Possibilities of Silicone material,
LS Mtron presents a new solution with WIZ-E LSR!
Silicone has been widely used throughout the industry and has been regarded as the important high-tech chemical industry indispensable not only in the basic chemical industry but also in the applied chemical industry. Particularly, Liquid Silicone Rubber(LSR) is a material used across a wide range of industries such as medical, electronic products, household appliances, cosmetics and automobile due to its harmlessness to the human body and its stable physical properties such as heat resistance, insulation, and flame resistance.
With an increasing importance of the silicone industry, we want to introduce WIZ-E LSR series of LS Mtron Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as LS Mtron), which is creating a new boom in the injection molding market this year with the concept of ‘Total Solution and Smart Factory’.
Let"s look at WIZ-E LSR series of LS Mtron which says “We will provide all Total Solution Provider concept related to LSR from accessory equipment to mold, as well as LS Mtron’s accumulated know-how consulting to maximize our clients’ profits”.
1. Overview of Silicone
(1) Definition of silicone
Silicone refers to a polymer in which Organosilicone containing an organic group and oxygen are chemically bonded to each other. Silicon is applied in various forms as a unique chemistry that combines organic and inorganic properties, and it is positioned as a high-performance material that is essential for most industries. In the latter half of the nineteenth century, Silicone"s chemical formula R₂SiO, which was synthesized in a laboratory, was called Silico-Ketone (silicon ketone) because it was similar to R₂CO of ketone and it is now called Silicone for short. However, while ketones are low molecular weight organic compounds, Silicone is a polymer without chemical structural similarity in quanta as described.
(Table 1) Types of silicone
Source. Korea Research Association of Silicone Industry(KORASI)
(2) What is Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR)?
LSR is a material that is used in various industrial fields such as medical, electronic products, household appliances, cosmetics, and automobiles due to its harmlessness (non-toxic, colorless, odorless) to the human body and stable physical properties such as heat resistance, insulation and flame resistance, and is basically resistant to temperature changes such as heat resistance, cold-resistance, and weather resistance.
In addition, it is particularly suitable for producing infant products since it is harmless to the human body due to its tastelessness, odorlessness and non-toxicity. Therefore, it is also widely sought after by customers and is considered one of the constantly growing injection-molding fields.
(3) Importance of silicone
Silicone has unique and excellent properties due to its structure: heat resistance, cold resistance, chemical resistance, insulation, weather resistance, water repellency, and flame resistance. These properties are widely used throughout the industry today. It is the important high-tech chemical industry indispensable not only in the basic chemical industry but also in the applied chemical industry.
Due to these characteristics and importance, the main products such as oil, rubber, resin and special Silane are widely used in all industrial fields. Currently, the number of products used in the silicon industry reaches 6,000, and as the industry becomes more fragmented, diversified and highly technologized, the demand for a diversity of items including high-performance and high-quality precision materials is accelerating.
As technological advances cannot be considered apart from the expansion of the market, the silicon chemical industry is expected to continue to develop new materials constantly as one of the new materials supporting the next generation technology.
2. LS Mtron’s LSR Injection Molding Machine, what is different?
Conventional injection molding products have been more difficult to make stable profits because of the recent price pressure of low-priced products. However, LSR’s high-value injection molding is able to create added value more than 10 times that of conventional injection molding products.
(Table 2) Why need WIZ-E LSR: LSR-specialized configuration
(1) LS’s unique Liquid Silicone Solution – LS’s unique electric type, compared to conventional hydraulic pressure
LS Mtron’s electric-type features increase its productivity, compared to conventional hydraulic type.
① Optimized mold opening stroke for LSR injection molding: The mold opening stroke is optimized for LSR injection molding. It is easy to take LSR products by extending mold opening stroke by 3~20% compared to existing toggle-type.
② High stiffness center press plate: High stiffness center press plate is applied to minimize deformation of platen by hot mold temperature
③ KEBA CONTROLLER optimized for silicon injection: KEBA CONTROLLER can be precisely controlled in a silicone injection mode, thus enhancing user convenience. In addition, there is a monitoring screen that facilitates molding data search and Cycle analysis, as well as the advantage of convenient unit conversion.
④ Automatic clamping force calibration: Automatic clamping force calibration as an option. It keeps consistent clamping force to provide uniform quality and maintain molding life.
(2) LS’s unique Liquid Silicone Solution - Injection package configuration for LSR
It keeps a stable mixing ratio, while controlling the liquid silicone precision injection amount by using LSR’s specialized screw, special screw head A"ssy, etc.
① Processing unit: Improves reliability of silicone injection and reduces defects caused by valve defects. It also provides an optimal color mixing ratio.
② Shut-off nozzle and plate-type screw head set: Special shut-off nozzle enables nozzle tip replacement, and plate-type screw head set increases the reproducibility of injection molding of LSR products.
③ Cooling Jacket Barrel: Prevents hardening of silicone through precise temperature control.
④ Dosing unit: It provides a raw material mixing ratio optimized for LSR injection, and the power source is pneumatic, hydraulic, and servo motor. The material transfer pressure is 60~220bar, and materials are conveyed by screw transfer and pumping transfer methods. Also, a mixing ratio is 50:50, and a color mixing ratio is controlled within 0.1~4%.
⑤ Servo motor individual control: Mold Open during Charge. Eject during Mold Open. Inject during Boosting. Cycle time saving. The injection speed can be up to 300mm/s with high-output and high-response. AC servo motor is applied to improve response time and injection speed.
(Fig.1) LIM(Liquid Injection Molding) System applied at the core of LSR injection
(3) Electric-type features – Pleasant work environment
LS Mtron"s WIZ-E LSR series has a clean working environment with a structure that does not require hydraulic fluid itself, as well as the advantage of no burden for leakage and water fees since it doesn’t need cooling water to cool hydraulic fluid.
In addition, only about 70dB noise at daily conversation level is generated, thereby reducing the fatigue of users.
(4) LSR Total Solution - Injection molding machine + press + accessory equipment
① Electric LSR injection machine: LS electric technology specialized for LSR
② Mold production and consulting specialized for LSR: Specialized mold manufacturing technology support required for liquid silicone injection
③ Optimized accessory equipment: LS provides designing and engineering peripheral for equipment which is customized to LS WIZ-E LSR machine
■ Inquiry: LS Mtron Ltd. www.lsinjection.com
