How to Produce Silicone Beads?

Silicone beads have been popular in the craft and baby product industries, and becoming one of the materials of choice for creative projects and functional designs.

But how to produce silicone beads? Here, I will describe the production process of silicone beads.

Silicone beads are mainly made of food-grade silicone, which is non-toxic, durable and can be used for various purposes.

Production process of silicone beads

The process involves several steps, from the preparation of raw silicone to molding, curing and quality control.

Raw Material Preparation

• The main material of silicone base is liquid silicone or solid silicone (high temperature vulcanized silicone).
• Coloring pigments need to be added to give the finished product the desired color.
• Catalysts need to be added to accelerate the curing process.
• Stabilizers need to be added to improve durability and UV resistance.

Solid silicone needs to be fully mixed with the above materials and silicone on a rubber mixer to ensure uniformity of texture and color, and finally the fully mixed raw materials are cut into pieces of suitable size.

Molding or Forming

Silicone beads are usually produced using one of the following two methods:

1. Liquid silicone is injected into a bead mold under high pressure.

The mold is made of heat-resistant material (usually metal) and contains a cavity in the shape of the desired beads.
This method is precise and efficient for large-scale production.

2. Solid Silicone Compression Molding

Put the cut solid silicone block into a mold and allow it to cure under high temperature and pressure.
This method is slower but can be used for smaller production batches.

Curing

Silicone needs to cure (vulcanize) to solidify and stabilize. Curing can be done in two ways:

1. Heat curing

The silicone is exposed to high temperatures (ranging from 150-200°C) inside the mold to activate the curing agent. This step ensures that the beads are durable and heat resistant.

2. Platinum curing

The silicone is cured at lower temperatures using a platinum catalyst. This is common for food-grade and medical-grade products because it produces a cleaner, non-toxic final product.

Demolding

After curing, remove the silicone beads from the mold. Inspect the beads for defects such as bubbles, misshapen or incomplete shapes. Trim any excess material (burrs) around the edges.

Polishing or Finishing

Polish or sand the beads to remove any rough edges or surface irregularities.

Quality Control

Each batch of silicone beads undergoes rigorous quality checks to ensure:

• Uniform size, shape, and color.
• No harmful chemicals such as BPA, phthalates, or heavy metals.
• Complies with safety standards (e.g., FDA, LFGB).
• Beads are tested for durability, heat resistance, and flexibility.

Cleaning and Sterilization

Beads are cleaned thoroughly to remove any residue from the production process. For food-grade and baby-safe beads, sterilization is performed using high temperature or chemical-free methods.

Packaging

Silicone beads are packaged in bulk or pre-packed kits depending on their intended use (e.g., crafts, teething toys, jewelry making kits).

Key Considerations in the Production Process

During the production process, we need to focus on several key details that will determine the product safety and quality of the silicone beads.

Safety Standards

For baby and food-grade applications, silicone must be free of BPA, phthalates, lead, and other harmful chemicals.

Manufacturers must comply with regulations such as FDA, LFGB, or EU safety standards, and need to send finished products to qualified testing agencies for corresponding testing before they can be released to the market.

Molding accuracy

The size and shape of the beads must be uniform to ensure the consistency of the final product. High-quality molds are essential for accuracy.We divide molds into three types based on materials.

• Aluminum alloy molds, which are low-priced and not durable, are suitable for proofing and very small-scale production.
• Stainless steel molds, which are expensive and durable, are suitable for large-scale production.
• Copper molds, which are moderate in size and price, are suitable for small and medium-scale production.

Durability testing

The beads should be tested for wear resistance, tear resistance, and extreme temperatures.

Hygiene

Since silicone beads are often used in baby and food-related products, strict hygiene regulations must be followed during the production process.

Therefore, knowing how to produce silicone beads, we know how to identify product quality and supplier capabilities when purchasing.

And It is best for us to visit the supplier’s factory to ensure that the production is of high quality and the product quality can satisfy customers.

If you need to purchase silicone beads in bulk, you can also contact us directly. We can help you purchase great quality silicone beads at a good price.

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