Silicone Rubber Recycling

Recycled Skin Process Flow

1. Different Colors of silicone rubber burr is set aside and used as recycled material.
2. Recycle silicone rubber is manually cut into small flakes
Additional manpower required for Recycled Skin as compared with ordinary skin
 
3. Disperse flakes of recycled silicone rubber evenly throughout a piece of raw silicone rubber.
4. Material mixing in progress
5. Material mixing completed
6. Cut mixed material into required size to fit into master tool
7. Place the mixed material into the master tool
8. Compression molding completed
9. De-Molded after compression molding 10. Intensive manual de-burring
Additional manpower and wastage as compared to ordinary skins
11. Different amount (%) of recycled silicone rubber flakes – unique pattern on each skin

Different amount (%) of Recycled Silicone Rubber

Material Thickness: 1.0mm Material Thickness: 1.5mm
Composition: 25% recycled silicone 75% raw silicone Result: out of shape Composition: 15% recycled silicone 85% raw silicone Result: In good shape Composition: 25% recycled silicone 75% raw silicone Result: In good shape

Important Notes

  • Recycled Silicone rubber must be cut into flakes in order to be built-in well with raw silicone – manual process
  • Once molded, the recycled silicone rubber will not be liquefied and re-form again. Therefore, in this “second” compression molding process, some parts of the recycled silicone rubber might stick out of the molded skin. It will cause de-molding much more difficult and time-consuming.
  • The “sticking out” recycled silicone rubber along the parting lines will also cause de-burring more labor intension and time consuming.
  • Different amount (%) of recycled silicone and thickness of material will cause the skin’s tensile strength and stiffness to vary.
  • The recycled silicone rubber is originated from burr being set aside during ordinary production time. As a result, shape and color of the recycled silicone is largely non-predetermined.

Recycled Skin – Tensile Strength Test

Test Procedure:

  • Hanged each specimen by clipping onto the hook of the digital force gauge.
  • Applied continuous force by a bare hand to pull the skin down and away from the hook.
  • Once the skin was torn, the tester’s reading would indicate the maximum force that the specimen could resist.

Recycled skin – Tensile Strength Test

Photo images: Tensile Strength Tests in Progress

Recycled skin – Tensile Strength Test

Photo images: Tensile Strength Tests in Progress

Recycled skin – Tensile Strength Test Report


Conclusion

Recycled skins exhibit a relatively weaker tensile strength. The higher percentage of recycled silicone rubber content, the more vulnerable it is to tear.
Production of Recycled Skins will cause:

  • Higher wastage
  • Higher production cost