At the Fakuma trade fair, Wacker is showcasing high-performance silicones

Wacker will present two new liquid silicone rubber grades at the 30th Fakuma international trade fair for plastics processing, taking place from October 12 to 16 in Friedrichshafen, Germany. Elastosil LR 5471 is a self-adhesive, high tear-resistant material intended for hard/soft composites used in food contact, babycare, medical and other sensitive applications. Elastosil LR 3822 is an oil-exuding, coolant-resistant grade developed for gaskets and seals in electric vehicles, with a particular focus on connector seals in the cooling circuits of EV traction batteries. According to the company, the two materials are designed to combine processing efficiency with mechanical performance and durability. Wacker will also present silicone-based additives and processing aids for compounding thermoplastics and biopolymers.

"At Fakuma this year, we will be demonstrating how innovative silicones can help reduce production costs without compromising on quality", says Martin Bortenschlager, Head of the Energy & Industrial Business Team at Wacker Silicones. The company will exhibit in Hall A6, Booth A6-6212. "One product is self-adhesive, tear-resistant, and suitable for contact with food and for sensitive applications. The other material is coolant-resistant, oil-exuding and highly elastic, making it ideal for seals in the cooling circuit of EV batteries", Bortenschlager explains. "A property profile like this offers enormous advantages, as it expands the range of applications for silicones and makes them significantly easier to process."

Wacker liquid silicone rubber will also be used by several other Fakuma exhibitors, including fluid technology and fluid systems specialist Kracht in Hall A6, Booth 6206; Babyplast Christmann in Hall B3, Booth 3002; and Elmet Elastomere in Hall A5, Booth 5306.

Self-adhesive silicone for hard/soft composites

Self-adhesive liquid silicone rubber grades enable the efficient large-scale production of hard/soft composite components. The hard component can be overmolded with liquid silicone rubber in an injection molding machine without prior surface treatment, supporting the mass production of composite parts based on thermoplastics or metals.

Elastosil LR 5471, which Wacker will unveil at Fakuma, provides adhesion to metals and thermoplastics. The product also complies with the guidelines of the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment for silicones and with other regulations covering food contact and babycare applications, without requiring thermal post-treatment.

The grade offers elongation at break of up to 570 percent and tear strength of 38 N/mm according to ASTM D 624 B, without postcure treatment. According to Wacker, molded parts therefore provide the elasticity and mechanical strength required for mechanically demanding food contact and sensitive applications. Potential uses include gaskets and flexible scrapers for cookware, baking and kitchen utensils, medical applications, and soft components for pacifiers and baby bottles.

Elastosil LR 5471 is available in Shore A hardness grades 40 and 50. It is intended particularly for the large-scale production of overmolded parts and for co-molding processes.

At this year's Fakuma, Wacker will present Elastosil LR 5471, a new postcure-free silicone rubber with self-adhesive properties. The material is suitable for food contact applications, including cookware, baking and kitchen utensils.

Michael Kalchauer, head of Wacker's Process Technology Center at the company's Burghausen site, will discuss the new liquid silicone rubber during a presentation at Fakuma's East Conference Center, Berlin Room, on Tuesday, October 13 at 2:20 p.m.

Coolant-resistant seals for electric vehicles

Elastosil LR 3822 is an oil-exuding liquid silicone rubber with coolant resistance, developed specifically for e-mobility applications. Its primary target application is connector seals in the cooling circuit of EV traction batteries. Molded parts made from the grade have a low compression set and high resilience, properties intended to support consistent sealing performance.

The material continuously releases silicone oil from its surface, forming a lubricant film that facilitates automated assembly of molded parts. The silicone is also durable and tear-resistant. After curing, it can be stretched by 270 percent without cracking or damage. It retains elasticity at temperatures down to -45 °C.

According to Wacker, Elastosil LR 3822 is the first oil-exuding product that also provides high coolant resistance. Tests indicate that the material retains most of its mechanical properties after storage for 1,000 hours in a glycol-water mixture at 125 °C. Its compression set is 44 percent, providing sealing elements with sufficient resilience to maintain sealing performance in the seal groove during operation.

Additives for compounds and thermoset systems

Wacker will also show additives and processing aids sold under the Genioplast and Genioperl brands. Genioplast additives are intended for conventional compounding processes and are designed to improve processability, surface quality and mechanical properties in polyolefin compounds, engineering plastics and thermoplastic elastomers.

Genioperl high-performance tougheners are designed specifically for epoxy and vinyl ester systems. Their architecture, based on a functional silicone building block, is intended to provide uniform dispersion, compatibility and phase separation during curing. The resulting systems offer improved impact resistance, damage tolerance, adhesion and low-temperature toughness, while viscosity and glass transition temperature remain virtually unchanged.