About the Rubber Molding Process

Rubber can be molded into countless useful items.

Rubber is the name given to several elastic, resilient substances. These materials, such as latex and silicone rubber, can be molded into many different items.

History

Rubber was not used much in Western nations before the latter half of the 19th century. The rubber molding industry was small scale, mostly supplying pencil erasers and some rainwear. In the 1840s, Charles Goodyear and Thomas Hancock both patented similar processes that made molded rubber more stable and durable. Thereafter, rubber molding became more significant in technology and industry.

Types

There are three basic types of rubber molding processes in industry: compression, transfer and injection. Compression is the crudest but also the cheapest. Transfer molding involves more waste, and the molds are more expensive, but the results are better. Injection molding is the most sophisticated but also the most expensive.

Considerations

Industrial rubber molding processes are not suitable for small projects. For these, liquid latex and silicone rubbers are available. These are used by sculptors and other craftspeople to make molds or small rubber items. Liquid rubber is painted or poured over the subject to be copied or poured into a mold if a rubber item is being created.

References

• Lecture Notes in Physics: History of Rubber and Its Use
• Science Encyclopedia: Vulcanization
• Twin Pines Manufacturing: Types of Rubber Molding
• Carnegie Mellon University: Silicone Mold Procedure

Resources

• Duke University: Glossary of Molding & Casting Terms