How many methods are there for coloring silicone products?

As is well known, in addition to superior product performance, silicone products also have a very unique advantage, which is the color change. Now let's take a look at the following methods for coloring silicone products:

1.Solution method
This method involves dissolving silicone rubber into a solution with a certain concentration, then adding coloring agents and silicone rubber compounding agents to the solution, stirring evenly, drying at a certain temperature to remove the solvent, and adding sulfur to the rubber mixing machine. Disadvantages: Complex operation, uneven dispersion, slight color difference, difficult solvent recovery, environmental pollution, and low usage.

2.Mixing method
At present, this method is commonly used in coloring silicone products, which involves directly adding the coloring agent or mixing it with the carrier before adding it to the rubber compound, and then mixing it evenly through a rubber mixing machine to color the silicone rubber. The specific methods are as follows.

3.Dry powder method
Directly add the powdered colorant and small material into the silicone gel and mix on the open mill. The advantages are simple operation and low cost, but there is a large amount of dust during mixing, which pollutes the environment and is not easily dispersed evenly. There is color difference, and if the particles are too hard or coarse, it can also cause quality problems such as color spots, stripes, or chromatographic mutual pollution, which is less commonly used.
4.Color paste method
It is first mixed with a liquid colorant, then ground into a paste or slurry using a three roll machine, and then added to silicone rubber in a certain proportion for mixing. This method can prevent dust from flying everywhere, which is beneficial for the dispersion of colorants in rubber and uniform color. But the content of colorants in the color paste is relatively low, the coloring is not very high, the transportation volume is large, the loss is large, and it is not very convenient for users to use.
5.Granular method
There are two main methods for preparing coloring agent particles. The method is the same as other powder formulations. Firstly, soak the powder coloring agent in a surfactant, and then extrude it into pellets by melting wax or melting with resin. The second method is to soak the colorant in the surfactant, then refine the colorant particles by mechanical force to make a dispersion of a certain concentration, then mix with lotion for deposition, dry and roll to make particles. Particle coloring agents are easy to use, have good dispersibility, no dust flying, do not pollute the environment, have bright colors, uniform hair color, and no color difference. They are a very promising coloring method. However, the preparation process of granular coloring agents should be extensive.