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 | Идеальные приложения |
| Room-Temperature Curing (РТВ) | 20°С–25°С | 24 часы (full curing); 6–8 часов (initial setting) | – Moderate hardness (Шор А 20–40)- Good flexibility; no heating damage to master models | Small-batch crafts (НАПРИМЕР., jewelry wax molds), temperature-sensitive prototypes (НАПРИМЕР., wax TV remote models), на месте строительство, and rapid low-volume prototyping. |
| Heating-Curing (HTV) – Medium Temp | 80°C–120°C | 1–3 часа (full curing) | – Более высокая твердость (Shore A 40–60)- Better abrasion/tear resistance; stable for 50+ циклы кастинга | Industrial mass production (НАПРИМЕР., 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 минуты - 1 час (full curing) | – Крайняя твердость (Shore A 60–80)- Отличная теплостойкость; Подходит для применений с высоким уровнем стресса | Special industrial parts (НАПРИМЕР., heavy-duty machinery gaskets), high-temperature casting molds, and scenarios needing ultra-fast curing (НАПРИМЕР., emergency mold repairs). |
| Low-Temperature Fast-Curing | 0°C–10°C (refrigerated environment) | 4–10 часов (full curing) | – Resists low-temperature brittleness- Maintains flexibility in cold conditions | Cold-region manufacturing (НАПРИМЕР., mold production in winter for northern factories), cold-storage-related prototypes, and projects where room-temperature curing is impossible. |
| High-Temperature Resistant | 80°C–120°C (выклятый); 200° C - 300 ° C. (service temp) | 2–3 часа (full curing) | – Cures like medium-temp HTV but withstands extreme service heat- No deformation at 250°C+ for 100+ часы | Аэрокосмические компоненты (НАПРИМЕР., Тепловые щиты двигателя), high-temperature industrial molds (НАПРИМЕР., metal alloy casting), and parts for high-heat environments. |
Ключевая нота: For most common scenarios (НАПРИМЕР., TV prototype mold replication, small crafts), Комната-температура (20°С–25°С) или 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:
Шаг 1: Prioritize the Master Model’s Heat Resistance
The master model (the original part you’re replicating) dictates the maximum safe temperature. Например:
- If the master model is a wax TV button prototype (melts at 50°C+), you must use room-temperature curing (20°С–25°С)—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.
Шаг 2: Adjust for Mold Thickness
Thicker molds trap heat, requiring longer curing times or slightly adjusted temperatures to avoid uneven hardening:
| Толщина плесени | Room-Temp Curing (20°С–25°С) | Medium-Temp HTV (80°C–120°C) |
| ≤5 мм | 24 часы (полное лекарство) | 1 час (полное лекарство) |
| 6–10 мм | 30–36 hours (полное лекарство) | 1.5-2 часа (полное лекарство) |
| >10мм | 40–48 часов (полное лекарство) | 2–2.5 hours (полное лекарство) |
Пример: 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, пока 2.5 hours would waste time.
Шаг 3: Align with Production Efficiency Goals
If you need fast turnaround (НАПРИМЕР., 10 TV prototype molds for a trade show in 3 дни), выбирать 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 & Решения
Even with the right type, incorrect temperature control can cause defects. Below are the most frequent problems and how to fix them:
| Проблема | Первопричина | Решение |
| Mold remains sticky after curing | – Room-temp curing: Влажность >60% or temperature <18° C. (замедляет сшивку).- HTV: Temperature too low (НАПРИМЕР., 60°C for medium-temp silicone) or time too short. | – Room-temp: Move to a dehumidified area (влажность <50%) and extend curing by 6–8 hours.- HTV: Raise temperature by 10–20°C and cure for an extra 30 минуты. |
| Mold cracks during demolding | – HTV: Rapid temperature spikes (НАПРИМЕР., 60°C → 150°C in 5 минуты) cause thermal stress.- Low-temp curing: Температура <0° C. (brittles silicone). | – HTV: Use staged heating (НАПРИМЕР., 60° C для 30 mins → 100°C for 1 час).- Низкий тему: Keep curing temp between 0°C–10°C (use a controlled refrigerator). |
| Uneven hardness (soft in some areas) | – Thick molds: Heat doesn’t penetrate the center (HTV) or humidity varies across the mold (room-temp).- Poor temperature distribution (НАПРИМЕР., HTV oven has hot spots). | – Thick molds: For HTV, use a rotating oven; for room-temp, flip the mold every 8 hours.- Oven: Проверьте температуру с помощью термометра и отрегулируйте вентиляционные отверстия, чтобы исключить перегревы.. |
4. Yigu Technology’s Perspective on Flipped Silicone Temperatures
В Yigu Technology, мы нашли это 70% Большинство отказов перевернутого силикона происходит из-за игнорирования температурных нюансов, особенно для форм прототипов телевизоров и электронных деталей.. Для клиентов, тиражирующих небольшие компоненты телевизоров (НАПРИМЕР., интерфейсные панели) с мастер-моделями, напечатанными на 3D-принтере (термочувствительность до 60°C+), мы всегда рекомендуем отверждение при комнатной температуре (20°С–25°С) с контролем влажности (<50%)— это позволяет избежать повреждения модели и обеспечивает детальное воспроизведение пресс-формы.. Для клиентов производящих 50+ TV back cover molds, мы предлагаем среднетемпературную HTV (90°C–100°C) with staged heating—this cuts curing time from 24 часы до 1.5 hours while maintaining mold durability (60+ циклы кастинга). 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 в переработке. Our key advice: Never prioritize speed over compatibility—always check the master model’s heat resistance first, then adjust temperature for thickness and efficiency.
5. Часто задаваемые вопросы: Common Questions About Flipped Silicone Temperatures
1 квартал: Can I use a hair dryer to heat-cure flipped silicone (HTV) if I don’t have an oven?
А1: No—hair dryers produce uneven heat (hot spots and cold spots), leading to uneven curing or cracks. For small HTV molds, Используйте тепловой пистолет на низкой установке (80°C–100°C) with constant movement; for larger molds, invest in a small thermostatic oven (affordable for small-batch production).
2 квартал: My room-temperature flipped silicone is curing too slowly (зима, 15°C in the workshop)—what can I do?
А2: 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% (НАПРИМЕР., 24 hours → 36 часы) 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?
А3: 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. После лечения, test its service temperature (200°C+ if needed) with a small sample before full use—this confirms it meets high-heat requirements.