When mold silicone develops yellowing, hardening, cracking, or decreased elasticity during use, it is typically related to aging factors. Understanding these influencing factors helps extend mold service life and reduce costs associated with frequent mold replacement.

High temperature is one of the common aging factors. Long-term use or storage in high-temperature environments may cause changes in the silicone rubber molecular structure, manifesting as increased hardness, decreased elasticity, or surface cracking. Temperature resistance varies among grades, and suitable products should be selected based on actual operating temperature. If the mold needs to contact high-temperature resins or other exothermic materials, attention should be paid to both short-term temperature resistance and long-term heat resistance performance.

UV exposure may also cause surface yellowing or performance degradation in some silicone rubber materials. Molds stored outdoors or exposed to strong light environments for extended periods are more prone to such changes. For molds requiring long-term storage, placement in a light-protected, dry, ventilated environment is recommended.

Chemical contact similarly affects mold life. Certain solvents, resins, cleaning agents, or mold release agents may react adversely with mold silicone, causing surface stickiness, swelling, hardening, or cracking. Compatibility between accompanying materials and mold silicone should be confirmed before use, avoiding prolonged contact with unknown chemicals.

Prolonged compression or repeated stretching can also cause fatigue damage. If the mold remains under compression for extended periods, permanent deformation may occur; when demolding is frequent and draft angle is insufficient, localized stress concentration accelerates cracking. Standardized demolding operations, reasonable mold structure design, and avoiding forced mold removal all help extend service life.

Improper storage can also lead to performance degradation. Mold silicone should be kept away from high temperature, humidity, strong light, and contamination sources, and should not be stored together with substances that may affect curing. Our company provides a variety of mold silicone products. Customers can select suitable grades based on the operating environment, reproduction frequency, and storage conditions, and refer to storage and use recommendations in technical documentation.

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