What is silicone liquid silicone harden

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● Factors Influencing Curing

Liquid silicone rubber (LSR) hardens through a chemical process known as curing, which transforms it from a liquid or gel state into a solid form. This process can occur through various methods, primarily involving catalysts and heat.## Curing Methods

1. Platinum-Catalyzed Cure:

- LSR typically uses a platinum catalyst that facilitates an addition reaction between two components: a hydride-functional siloxane and a vinyl-functional siloxane. This reaction creates crosslinks without producing byproducts, allowing for rapid curing when heat is applied, generally around 350°F (approximately 177°C) [1][2][3].

2. Condensation Cure:

- In this method, moisture in the air acts as a catalyst. The silicone reacts with water to form silanol groups, which then condense to create crosslinks, leading to solidification. This type of curing can occur at room temperature but may take longer compared to the platinum-catalyzed method [3][4].

3. Peroxide Cure:

- This method involves the use of organic peroxides that decompose at elevated temperatures to generate free radicals, initiating the crosslinking process. While effective, this method generally requires higher temperatures and longer curing times compared to platinum-catalyzed systems [6][7].

Factors Influencing Curing

- Temperature: Increasing the temperature can significantly accelerate the curing process. For example, for every increase of about 10°C, the cure rate can improve by approximately 20-25% [6].

- Catalyst Concentration: The amount of catalyst or crosslinker used can also affect curing speed; more catalyst typically results in faster curing times [6].

- Humidity: For condensation-cured silicones, ambient humidity levels can influence the speed and completeness of the curing process [3][5].