METHOD OF PREPARING SILICONE MIXTURES AND MOLDS FOR MANUFACTURING EXPERIMENTAL SAMPLES

Abstract

The process of manufacturing experimental non-metallic models of machinery and equipment for various industries - cement (Laval adjustable nozzle model), oil and gas (preventor seal model), etc. - which will be used in future experimental studies. To speed up the improvement or development of products, simulation modeling is used to determine the stress-strain state and optimize the product at the design stage. To use simulation modeling, you need to know the behavior of the material. In the case of rubber or silicone parts, this is the relationship between stress and displacement under tension. Such characteristics can be obtained by making a prototype of the required shape and dimensions and testing it using the appropriate methodology on a special set-up. However, during the manufacturing process, both internal and external defects appear in silicone prototypes: waviness of the outer surface and the presence of air bubbles inside the material, which introduce errors in the test results. The article presents the results of research into the process of casting a prototype of SKR-788 silicone, namely the use of differ-rent materials for making a mold, facilitating the removal of the sample from the mold, and methods of mixing the base and catalyst. It was found that in the absence of a vacuum chamber used to degas the silicone prior to pouring it into the mold, a simple method of mixing the base and catalyst using a screw could be used. The use of a screw for mixing prevents air from entering the base and catalyst mixture, and as a result, the produced sample is free of defects.