Can We 3d Print Rubber

For 3d printing you require a material that becomes fluid controllably.

Can we 3d print rubber.

During vulcanization the rubber becomes solid and firmly holds onto its shape. Liquid injection molding is a manufacturing method that molds materials into different shapes and is a method that can produce parts in high volume. When rubber vulcanizes it becomes solid and holds its shape. An alternative method to 3d printing with silicone is a process called liquid injection molding or lim and when used for silicone also known as liquid silicone rubber injection molding or lsr lim.

3d printed rubber parts can be used in place of molded rubber for just about any application. As designers continue to grapple with the possibility of 3d printing rubber we tell you whether it is achievable or not and go into detail discussing alternative rubber like 3d printing materials. The reason why it is impossible to 3d print rubber is that rubber is a type of gummy material that is hot pressed to form a mold with which it cools down and vulcanize. 3d printing in our rubber like materials using our fine detail service also gives you a range of shore a values using the polyjet digital materials technology.

When re heating rubber it will burn. In fact these 3d printing materials are excellent substitutes for rubber. However rubber will never become fluid again after vulcanizing. So the fact that rubber undergoes vulcanization for improving its elasticity and strength means that it can never exist in a fluid state.

Amongst many other characteristics that rubber possesses it is an organic material its properties cannot be influenced by external factors. Thermoplastic elastomers also known as tpe s are basically a type of plastic that has been engineered to mimic the crucial qualities that made rubber so attractive. Can we 3d print rubber. After undergoing that transformation rubber can never become fluid again.