Momentive Introduces an Evolution in Rubber Extrusion: UV Cure Silicone Rubber

October 6, 2009 8:00 AM EDT

New Material Family Combines Extremely High Extrusion Speed With High Dimensional Stability, Parts Without Air Entrapment and Typical Silicone Rubber Properties

ALBANY, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Momentive Performance Materials today announced the launch of a new platform of elastomer products that can be cured by simple exposure to UV light. While silicone elastomers (HCR) are typically vulcanized with peroxide catalyst cured by heat exposure, this new, UV-sensitive, platinum catalyzed curing system also allows curing at room temperature. Part geometries commonly produced by extrusion processing can be cured within significantly reduced times compared to conventional silicone elastomers.

Over the past decade, the demand for silicone elastomers has grown steadily as the market shifted to the use of silicone as a replacement for other organic materials, largely due to the stringent biocompatibility, food contact and higher heat requirements imposed upon these materials. In particular, addition cure materials are increasingly being used in medical or food contact and water applications, due to a lack of peroxide residues, as well as FDA and BfR conformity.

UV cure technology can help provide energy savings and increased extrusion speed while maintaining the physical properties of silicone elastomers. The UV exposure time for the cure can be as short as 0.5 seconds, depending on the speed of the line and UV intensity. As the cure is initiated through UV radiation, the speed of cure is independent of the diameter and the cross-section of the extruded tube or profile. This allows high-speed extrusion without the risk of under-curing. Since the cure of the new UV silicone elastomers occurs at room temperature, this new technology also opens the potential for co-extrusion of silicones with temperature sensitive materials such as polyolefins and thermoplastic elastomers, which is not possible with traditional thermal cure silicone elastomers.

"UV curing systems have been used in several industries for a number of years", says Holger Albrecht, Global Marketing Manager from Momentive. "Now, for silicone extrusion we have developed a unique product and patented process technology. Together with our industry partners, we have introduced a new approach that does not require long heating tunnels. A small UV unit is sufficient for a high output in a small space. Based on this technology, the development of complex profiles and co-extrusion parts is now possible."

"We at POSA have a history of innovation in silicone extrusion technology," said Federico Lo Cicero, President, POSA spa. "These new Momentive materials will help us optimize our processing capabilities, and allow us to offer our customers a new range of compounds and re-engineered solutions."

Benchmark-supported test runs have shown that the new materials typically cure at a much higher speed for equivalent mechanical properties, resistance to heat and other characteristics normally achieved with the traditional thermal systems. Additionally, the UV system offers the processing advantages of extrusion without heat, as well as minimal shrinkage in the final part. The shapes of the extruded parts have shown an excellent dimensional stability in applications such as thick round tubes and complicated profiles.

Customers have been impressed with the achievable line speed, which has reached the limit of extrusion machines. The required space to manufacture complex profiles is reduced, since heating or radiation tunnels are unnecessary for this innovative technology. Moreover, the investment required for proper UV light sources is typically affordable in comparison to conventional curing tunnels.

This new product platform enables a number of new geometries and technical solutions that have not previously been possible. It also offers significant potential cost reductions considering the achievable yield increase and investment savings. These new materials are introduced in hardness's of 50, 60 and 70 Shore A and are available as ready-to-use transparent custom compounds.

Samples of the new materials will be shown at Fakuma 2009 in Friedrichshafen, Germany, October 13-17, 2009, at Momentive Performance Materials booth 2107, Hall B2.

About Momentive Performance Materials

Momentive Performance Materials Inc. is a premier specialty materials company, providing high-technology materials solutions to the silicones, quartz and ceramics markets. The company, as a global leader with worldwide operations, has a robust product portfolio, an enduring tradition of service excellence, and industry-leading research and development capabilities. Momentive Performance Materials Inc. is controlled by an affiliate of Apollo Management, L.P. Additional information is available at www.momentive.com.

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    Source: Momentive Performance Materials

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