Method for making elastomeric articles
AssigneesDow Silicones Corporation, Dow Global Technologies LLC
InventorsGregory Chambard, Davide Dei Santi, Thomas Davidian, Frederic Gubbels, Kevin Van Tiggelen, Peter Hermann Roland Sandkuehler
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Abstract
A method for molding shaped silicone elastomeric articles from room temperature curable silicone compositions, which are practically not suited to being processed using extrusion techniques, is provided. The method enables the room temperature curable silicone composition to cure in a predefined shape (6) into which it is introduced to form a shaped silicone elastomeric article. The articles may be, for the sake of example, suitable for use as spacers for insulating glass units (IGUs).
Claims20
A method for molding elongate shaped silicone elastomeric articles from room temperature curable silicone compositions, the method comprising:
- (i) draping a film (2) over a mold (4) comprising two or more predefined shapes (6) to establish an evacuatable volume (8) between the film (2) and each predefined shape (6) in the mold (4);
- (ii) applying suction to the evacuatable volume (8) between a first predefined shape (6a) of the mold (4) and the film (2) to establish an at least partial vacuum within the evacuatable volume (8) of said first predefined shape (6a), such that the film (2) forms a filmic inner lining conforming to the first predefined shape (6a) of the mold (4);
- (iii) additionally, applying suction to the evacuatable volume (8) between a second predefined shape (6b) of the mold (4) and the film (2), which second predefined shape (6b), is adjacent to the first predefined shape (6a), to also establish an at least partial vacuum within the evacuatable volume of said second predefined shape (6b) and consequently also forms a filmic inner lining conforming to the second predefined shape (6b) of the mold (4);
- (iv) sequentially repeating step (iii) until each predefined shape (6) in the mold (4) has an at least partial vacuum within the evacuatable volume (8) thereof and the film (2) forms a filmic inner lining conforming to each respective predefined shape (6) of the mold (4);
- (v) introducing room temperature curable silicone composition onto the filmic inner lining conforming to one or more predefined shapes (6) of the mold (4), which composition is designed to flow sufficiently to conform to the predefined shape (6) in the mold (4) into which it has been introduced;
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- (vi) enabling the room temperature curable silicone composition to cure in the predefined shape (6) into which it was introduced to form an elongate shaped silicone elastomeric article;
- wherein the elongate shaped silicone elastomeric articles are suitable for use as spacers in the manufacture of insulated glazing units.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.