Silicone Injection Molding

­­Silicones are thermoset materials, which can not be melted after production processes. These materials can reach temperature stabilities over 260°C.
Before cross linking silicones have a very low viscosity, which requires special injection molding tools, but it also enables production of very thin-walled components as well as components with great differences in wall thickness.

Some silicone types have very good transmission properties, especially in UV range from 250 nm wavelengths upwards. The low level of elasticity of the material might require a fixing of the optical components in a mechanical frame.

For processing, special injection molding machines with mixing systems and cooled transferring to heated tools are required.

Due to its high aging and temperature stability, silicone is predominantly used for illumination optics.