Innovation at UNIpace: 3D printing for liquid silicone

The process for additive manufacturing of components from liquid silicone is a novelty. LSR (liquid silicone rubber) is processed in the LAM process, which allows the creation of complex geometries that were previously impossible. Thermal crosslinking is carried out in a time-saving manner by means of a high-temperature halogen lamp, while the print head enables process-reliable metering. The material properties are as good as or better than those of components from conventional production processes.

The advantages of this additive manufacturing are not only product optimization through design freedom, but also the targeted, individual adaptation of materials to customer requirements. Research topics at the UNIpace Application Center in this area will therefore be, on the one hand, material optimization with targeted adaptation of the required properties, for example by additivation of silicone rubbers. Another interesting topic is the printing of thermoplastics, where pretreatment plays a decisive role in addition to the selection of the plastic.

More than 100,000 euros have been invested in the new equipment. The application center for plastics processing UNIpace has been located on the campus of the University of Kassel since 2013 and is under the scientific direction of Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hans-Peter Heim (Institute of Materials Engineering, Department of Plastics Technology). UNIpace conducts research with several regional and national companies in the field of silicone rubber processing. Currently, 16 people are employed at UNIpace.

Further information: https://www.uni-kassel.de/einrichtung/ukt/innovationsnetzwerke-technologietransfer/anwendungszentrum-kunststoffverarbeitung-unipace

Contact:
Dr.-Ing. Ralf-Urs Giesen
giesen[at]uni-kassel[dot]de
+49561 804 3667