What material is the mold for silicone products made of?

What material is the mold for silicone products made of? In the production process of silicone products, the mold is a crucial tool that directly determines the shape, size, and accuracy of the product. In the selection of mold materials, different materials will bring different characteristics and applicable ranges.

Mold material for silicone products

There are various types of mold materials for silicone products, including the following:
Aluminum alloy mold
Aluminum alloy molds are a commonly used type in the production of silicone products. It has the advantages of good thermal conductivity, high strength, and light weight, making it suitable for making small and medium-sized silicone products with simple structures. The processing accuracy of aluminum alloy molds is high, which can meet the strict requirements of silicone products for size and shape.
Steel mold
Steel molds are commonly used to make large or structurally complex silicone products. Steel has high hardness and wear resistance, and can withstand significant pressure and wear, so the service life of steel molds is relatively long. However, the processing cost of steel molds is relatively high, and their weight is large, which is not conducive to handling and operation.
resin mold
Resin molds are commonly used in some small-scale production or sample making due to their low cost and ease of processing. The molding speed of resin molds is fast, and they can quickly produce the required mold shape. However, the strength and wear resistance of resin molds are relatively poor, making them unsuitable for long-term high-intensity use.
Silicone mold (for replication)
It is worth noting that silicone is also used as the mold material during the replication process of silicone products. This type of silicone mold is usually formed by injecting liquid silicone into the surface of the prototype and curing it, which has the advantages of good elasticity, easy demolding, and reusability. Silicone molds are particularly suitable for making silicone products with complex structures and rich details.
The selection of mold material for silicone products has a significant impact on product quality and production efficiency. When selecting mold materials, it is necessary to comprehensively consider factors such as specific product requirements, production scale, and budget.