Dow Corning Releases New Line of Liquid Silicone Rubber

Dow Corning, a provider of silicones and silicon-based technology, recently introduced its QP1-2 liquid silicone rubber (LSR) product line. The five new platinum-catalyzed, heat-cured silicone elastomers were designed to offer medical device manufacturers enhanced processability, improved shot-to-shot consistency and faster cure profiles to support high-volume liquid injection molding of small, intricate components, according to the company.

“Medical device manufacturers are seeking to integrate greater functionality in ever more compact devices, which is challenging enough without trying to also control manufacturing costs,” said Gary Lord, global strategic marketing director for Dow Corning’s Healthcare division. “The result of close collaboration with our global customers, Dow Corning’s QP1-2 elastomers further expands our extensive line of advanced solutions for medical device fabrication. More importantly, it expands options for our customers to address emerging design and manufacturing challenges to compete more effectively in this rapidly evolving marketplace.”

Lord says QP1-2 LSRs offer improved rheology vs. other silicones, enabling them to flow quickly at lower pressures into intricate molds.

In addition, their batch-to-batch consistency and fast-cure profile helps to reduce cycle times by at least 15 percent compared to other silicone materials. According to Dow Corning, QP1-2 LSRs meet all biocompatibility standards for short-term implant, non-implant, surgical suite and consumer healthcare applications, as well as Class II medical equipment.