Food-grade silicone key chain multi-color splicing method

Preliminary preparation

Material selection

Silicone raw materials: Prepare food-grade silicone raw materials in various colors to ensure that each color meets food safety standards, is odorless and non-toxic. Silicone of different colors should preferably have the same hardness to avoid uneven hardness in certain areas after splicing, which could affect the overall feel and user experience of the key chain.

Auxiliary materials: Silicone adhesive also needs to be prepared. It is necessary to choose an adhesive that has good compatibility with food-grade silicone and is non-toxic and harmless after curing to ensure the firmness and safety of the splicing parts. At the same time, prepare some release agents for demolding, such as silicone oil or demolding wax, to prevent the silicone from adhering in the mold.

Tool preparation

Mold: According to the designed shape and size of the key chain, make the corresponding mold. The material of the mold can be selected from silicone, metal or plastic, etc. It is necessary to ensure that the surface of the mold is smooth so that the surface of the silicone key chain after molding can be flat.

Syringe or dropper: It is used to precisely inject silicone raw materials of different colors into the designated positions of the mold to achieve a multi-color splicing effect.

Curing equipment: According to the curing requirements of the silicone raw materials, prepare the corresponding curing equipment, such as ovens or ultraviolet curing lamps. If it is heat-curing silicone, an oven is needed to provide the appropriate temperature and time. If it is UV-curable silicone, use an ultraviolet curing lamp.

Splicing method

Planar multi-color splicing

Mold zoning: During the design stage of the mold, the filling areas for silicone of different colors are clearly demarcated. The interior of the mold can be divided into different areas by using partitions or special mold structures to ensure that the silicone of each color does not mix with each other during injection.

Layer-by-layer injection: First, select a color of silicone raw material and slowly inject it into the first area of the mold with a syringe or dropper. When injecting, pay attention to controlling the speed and volume of injection to avoid the formation of bubbles. After the first color of silicone is filled to an appropriate height, wait for its initial curing (if it is heat-cured silicone, a short period of pre-curing can be carried out first), and then inject the second color of silicone into the adjacent areas. Repeat the above steps until all areas are filled.

Overall curing: After all the colored silicone has been injected into the mold, the mold is placed in the curing equipment for overall curing. According to the type and thickness of the silicone, set the appropriate curing temperature and time to ensure that the silicone is fully cured and forms a firm multi-color splicing structure.

Three-dimensional multi-color splicing

Component manufacturing: For three-dimensional key chains, silicone components of different colors can be fabricated separately first. Each component is fabricated using a separate mold to ensure that the shape and size of each component meet the design requirements.

Component bonding: Apply an appropriate amount of silicone adhesive to the parts that need to be spliced, and then accurately align and bond the components of different colors together. When bonding, apply appropriate pressure to ensure that the adhesive can fully fill the gaps between the components and guarantee the firmness of the spliced parts.

Secondary curing: Place the bonded key chain into the curing equipment for secondary curing to ensure the adhesive is fully cured and enhance the strength of the spliced parts. During the curing process, it is necessary to pay attention to controlling the temperature and time to avoid deformation or damage to the silicone due to excessively high temperature or long time.

Post-processing

Demolding

After the curing is completed, take the mold out of the curing equipment and let it cool to room temperature. Then carefully remove the assembled food-grade silicone key chain from the mold. During the demolding process, be careful to move gently to avoid damaging the surface and splicing parts of the key chain.

Trim

Inspect the surface and joints of the key chain. If there are burrs, flash or uneven areas, use sandpaper or a tool to smooth them out. When making adjustments, operate carefully to avoid excessive grinding that may cause changes in the size of the key chain or damage the splicing effect.

Cleaning and Inspection

Clean the key chain with clean water or alcohol to remove surface stains and residual release agents. After cleaning, conduct a comprehensive inspection of the key chain to check whether the splicing parts are firm, whether the color matching meets the design requirements, and whether the surface is smooth and free of defects, etc. If there are any substandard products, they should be reworked or scrapped in a timely manner.

Precautions

Color matching: When performing multi-color splicing, pay attention to the coordination of color matching. According to the principles of color theory, complementary colors, similar colors or contrasting colors can be selected for matching to achieve a beautiful visual effect.

Curing control: The curing process is a key link that affects the quality of multi-color splicing. It is necessary to strictly follow the curing requirements of the silicone raw materials and adhesives, control the curing temperature and time well, and avoid insufficient or excessive curing.

Hygiene and safety: As it is a food-grade silicone product, hygiene and safety standards must be strictly adhered to throughout the entire production process to ensure the cleanliness of the operating environment and tools and prevent the product from being contaminated.