What is the difference between silicone mold and plastic mold?

Silicone molds and plastic molds are two common mold types, and there are some differences in materials, manufacturing processes and applications. Below I will introduce the difference between silicone mold and plastic mold in detail.

1. Material characteristics:

(1) Silicone mold: Silicone mold is an elastic mold made of silicone material. Silicone has excellent softness and elasticity, which can be adapted to complex shapes and details of product manufacturing. Silicone mold has high heat and chemical resistance, suitable for the production of high temperature or chemical contact products.
(2) Plastic mold: Plastic mold is a rigid mold made of plastic material. Plastic molds are usually made of tool steel, stainless steel and other materials, which have high hardness and wear resistance. Plastic molds are suitable for mass production and can meet the requirements of high precision and high efficiency.

2. Manufacturing process:

(1) Silicone mold: Silicone mold manufacturing is relatively simple, usually by coating method or injection method. The coating method is to coat silica gel on the prototype to form a mold; The injection method is to inject silica gel into the mold shell to form a mold. Silicone mold manufacturing process does not require high temperature processing and complex processing technology.
(2) Plastic mold: Plastic mold manufacturing is relatively complex, usually using CNC machining, EDM and other precision processing technology for production. The manufacturing process of plastic mold needs to go through multiple processes, including mold design, processing, assembly and debugging.

3. Application field:

(1) Silicone mold: Silicone mold is suitable for making small batch or personalized products, such as handicrafts, jewelry, toys, etc. The silicone mold can copy the products with rich details, and has good softness and elasticity, which is suitable for making thin-walled products and complex shaped products.
(2) Plastic mold: Plastic mold is suitable for mass production of industrial products, such as plastic parts, home appliance accessories, auto parts, etc. Plastic molds have high hardness and wear resistance, can meet the requirements of high precision and high efficiency, and are suitable for large-scale production.

4. Cost and life:

(1) Silicone mold: silicone mold is relatively cheap, low manufacturing cost. However, the service life of the silicone mold is relatively short, and it is usually suitable for small batch production and short-term use.
(2) Plastic mold: plastic mold manufacturing costs are high, but due to good material rigidity, strong wear resistance, long service life. Plastic molds are suitable for large-scale production and can meet the needs of long-term stable production.

It is necessary to select the appropriate mold type according to the specific product requirements and production needs. Silicone molds are suitable for the production of small batches or personalized products, while plastic molds are suitable for large-scale production of industrial products.