Flipped silicone (also called mold-flipping silicone) is a key material for prototype replication, craft production, and industrial molding. Its curing temperature directly affects production efficiency, mold performance, and application suitability—using the wrong temperature can lead to incomplete hardening, weak durability, or even mold deformation. This article breaks down the curing temperatures of different flipped silicone types, explains how to match temperatures to scenarios, and addresses common temperature-related issues—with clear data and practical tips to help you achieve optimal curing results.
1. Curing Temperatures by Flipped Silicone Type
Flipped silicone is categorized by curing temperature needs, and each type has a specific temperature range to ensure optimal performance. The table below details the core parameters, based on industry standards and practical application data:
| Flipped Silicone Type | Curing Temperature Range | Typical Curing Time (at Recommended Temp) | Key Performance After Curing | Applicazioni ideali |
| Room-Temperature Curing (Rtv) | 20°C–25°C | 24 ore (full curing); 6–8 ore (initial setting) | – Moderate hardness (Shore A 20–40)- Good flexibility; no heating damage to master models | Small-batch crafts (PER ESEMPIO., jewelry wax molds), temperature-sensitive prototypes (PER ESEMPIO., wax TV remote models), Costruzione in loco, and rapid low-volume prototyping. |
| Heating-Curing (Htv) – Medium Temp | 80°C–120°C | 1–3 ore (full curing) | – Maggiore durezza (Shore A 40–60)- Better abrasion/tear resistance; stable for 50+ Cicli di lancio | Industrial mass production (PER ESEMPIO., auto part molds, TV back cover molds), scenarios requiring fast turnaround, and molds with high durability demands. |
| Heating-Curing (Htv) – High Temp | 150°C–200°C | 30 minuti -1 ora (full curing) | – Estrema durezza (Shore A 60–80)- Eccellente resistenza al calore; Adatto per applicazioni ad alto stress | Special industrial parts (PER ESEMPIO., heavy-duty machinery gaskets), high-temperature casting molds, e scenari che richiedono una polimerizzazione ultrarapida (PER ESEMPIO., riparazioni urgenti di stampi). |
| Polimerizzazione rapida a bassa temperatura | 0°C–10°C (ambiente refrigerato) | 4–10 ore (full curing) | – Resiste alla fragilità alle basse temperature- Mantiene la flessibilità in condizioni di freddo | Produzione nelle regioni fredde (PER ESEMPIO., produzione stampi in inverno per gli stabilimenti del nord), prototipi relativi alla conservazione a freddo, e progetti in cui la polimerizzazione a temperatura ambiente è impossibile. |
| Resistente alle alte temperature | 80°C–120°C (polimerizzazione); 200° C - 300 ° C. (temperatura di servizio) | 2–3 ore (full curing) | – Polimerizza come l'HTV a media temperatura ma resiste al calore di servizio estremo- Nessuna deformazione a 250°C+ per 100+ ore | Componenti aerospaziali (PER ESEMPIO., SCHIDDI DI CARMA del motore), high-temperature industrial molds (PER ESEMPIO., metal alloy casting), and parts for high-heat environments. |
Nota chiave: For most common scenarios (PER ESEMPIO., TV prototype mold replication, small crafts), temperatura ambiente (20°C–25°C) O medium-temperature heating (80°C–100°C) are the most practical choices—they balance ease of operation and performance.
2. How to Determine the Right Curing Temperature
Choosing the correct temperature isn’t just about matching the silicone type—it also depends on three critical factors: application scenario, mold thickness, and master model material. Use this step-by-step guide:
Fare un passo 1: Prioritize the Master Model’s Heat Resistance
The master model (the original part you’re replicating) dictates the maximum safe temperature. Per esempio:
- If the master model is a wax TV button prototype (melts at 50°C+), you must use room-temperature curing (20°C–25°C)—heating would destroy the model.
- If the master model is a CNC-machined aluminum TV frame (heat-resistant to 300°C+), you can use medium or high-temp HTV for faster curing.
Fare un passo 2: Adjust for Mold Thickness
Thicker molds trap heat, requiring longer curing times or slightly adjusted temperatures to avoid uneven hardening:
| Spessore della muffa | Room-Temp Curing (20°C–25°C) | Medium-Temp HTV (80°C–120°C) |
| ≤5mm | 24 ore (cura completa) | 1 ora (cura completa) |
| 6–10 mm | 30–36 hours (cura completa) | 1.5–2 ore (cura completa) |
| >10mm | 40–48 ore (cura completa) | 2–2.5 hours (cura completa) |
Esempio: A 8mm-thick TV back cover mold using medium-temp HTV needs 1.5 hours at 100°C—1 hour would leave the center under-cured, Mentre 2.5 hours would waste time.
Fare un passo 3: Align with Production Efficiency Goals
If you need fast turnaround (PER ESEMPIO., 10 TV prototype molds for a trade show in 3 giorni), scegliere medium-temp HTV (80°C–100°C) (1–2 hours per mold) instead of room-temperature curing (24 hours per mold). If time isn’t a constraint, room-temperature curing is cheaper (no heating equipment needed).
3. Common Temperature-Related Issues & Soluzioni
Even with the right type, incorrect temperature control can cause defects. Below are the most frequent problems and how to fix them:
| Problema | Causa ultima | Soluzione |
| Mold remains sticky after curing | – Room-temp curing: Humidity >60% or temperature <18° C. (slows cross-linking).- Htv: Temperature too low (PER ESEMPIO., 60°C for medium-temp silicone) or time too short. | – Room-temp: Move to a dehumidified area (umidità <50%) and extend curing by 6–8 hours.- Htv: Raise temperature by 10–20°C and cure for an extra 30 minuti. |
| Mold cracks during demolding | – Htv: Rapid temperature spikes (PER ESEMPIO., 60°C → 150°C in 5 minuti) cause thermal stress.- Low-temp curing: Temperatura <0° C. (brittles silicone). | – Htv: Use staged heating (PER ESEMPIO., 60° C per 30 mins → 100°C for 1 ora).- A bassa temperatura: Keep curing temp between 0°C–10°C (use a controlled refrigerator). |
| Uneven hardness (morbido in alcune zone) | – Stampi spessi: Il calore non penetra al centro (Htv) o l'umidità varia attraverso lo stampo (temperatura ambiente).- Scarsa distribuzione della temperatura (PER ESEMPIO., Il forno HTV presenta punti caldi). | – Stampi spessi: Per HTV, utilizzare un forno rotante; per la temperatura ambiente, capovolgere lo stampo ogni 8 ore.- Forno: Testare la temperatura con un termometro e regolare le prese d'aria per eliminare i punti caldi. |
4. Yigu Technology’s Perspective on Flipped Silicone Temperatures
Alla tecnologia Yigu, l'abbiamo trovato 70% dei guasti del silicone capovolto derivano dall'ignorare le sfumature della temperatura, in particolare per i prototipi TV e gli stampi di parti elettroniche. Per i clienti che replicano piccoli componenti TV (PER ESEMPIO., pannelli di interfaccia) with 3D-printed master models (heat-sensitive to 60°C+), we always recommend room-temperature curing (20°C–25°C) with humidity control (<50%)—this avoids model damage and ensures detailed mold replication. For clients producing 50+ TV back cover molds, we suggest medium-temp HTV (90°C–100°C) with staged heating—this cuts curing time from 24 ore a 1.5 hours while maintaining mold durability (60+ Cicli di lancio). A recent client once used 150°C (high-temp HTV) for a plastic TV frame mold, causing the master model to warp—switching to 90°C fixed the issue and saved $2,000 nella rielaborazione. Il nostro consiglio chiave: Never prioritize speed over compatibility—always check the master model’s heat resistance first, then adjust temperature for thickness and efficiency.
5. Domande frequenti: Common Questions About Flipped Silicone Temperatures
Q1: Can I use a hair dryer to heat-cure flipped silicone (Htv) if I don’t have an oven?
A1: No—hair dryers produce uneven heat (hot spots and cold spots), leading to uneven curing or cracks. For small HTV molds, Usa una pistola termica a bassa impostazione (80°C–100°C) with constant movement; for larger molds, invest in a small thermostatic oven (affordable for small-batch production).
Q2: My room-temperature flipped silicone is curing too slowly (inverno, 15°C in the workshop)—what can I do?
A2: Raise the room temperature to 20°C–25°C (use a space heater) and reduce humidity to <50% (with a dehumidifier). If temperature can’t be raised, extend curing time by 50% (PER ESEMPIO., 24 hours → 36 ore) to ensure full hardening—avoid using heat (it may damage temperature-sensitive master models).
Q3: For a 12mm-thick high-temperature resistant flipped silicone mold, what temperature and time should I use?
A3: Cure it at 100°C–120°C (standard for high-temperature resistant silicone) for 2.5–3 hours. Use a rotating oven to ensure heat penetrates the 12mm thickness evenly. Dopo aver curato, test its service temperature (200°C+ if needed) with a small sample before full use—this confirms it meets high-heat requirements.