The special ability of LSR liquid silicone, which is compounded with metal inserts and plastics, makes it the material of choice for waterproof silicone structures. At present, LSR has a wide range of applications, including consumer electronics such as mobile phones, smart wearables, handheld terminals, connectors, automobiles, and medical fields. Especially in the field of smart terminals, with the continuous development of the waterproof industry, the potential market is huge, and the market is about to explode. It is predicted that the penetration rate will reach 40% in 2020.

Waterproof application of liquid silicone in different products (mobile phones, smart wearables, handheld terminals, etc.)

1. Features of LSR and main application fields

LSR has many advantages and features, such as strong waterproof performance, elasticity, good aging resistance, non-toxic and harmless, good stability, good electrical insulation, etc. It can be made into serial and differentiated products with different shapes and different uses . At present, it is mainly used in the field of intelligent terminals. In addition, there are fields such as waterproofing and medical equipment.

1. Consumer electronics such as mobile phones

Mobile phone different parts LSR waterproof

High-precision mobile phone communication accessories

Three-proof tablet

Liquid silicone seal ring housing

Liquid silicone + plastic + hardware Cato

Type-c interface silicone structure

Headphone hole silicone structure

2. Smart wear

Apple watch supports deep waterproof

Smart bracelet

3. Handheld terminal

Three anti-handheld PDA

Dongda integrated AUTOID9 handheld terminal

4. Connector

Compared to the waterproofing of consumer electronics terminals, the concept of connector waterproofing has been widely used in various fields such as industry, communications, consumer, automotive, military and other industries. Many connectors in special fields need to reach IP68 level, and even require continuous working for several days to months in 10 meters of water. IP68 waterproof connectors can be divided into two types: power and data. Power supplies are mainly used for underwater lighting, urban lighting, etc .; data connectors include network cables, USB connectors, Bluetooth, etc.

Typical connector waterproof scheme is also achieved by adding O-rings, sealing rings and other structural parts to the interface part. In recent years, the manufacturing process represented by metal injection molding (MIM) has been used in connectors, such as Tyc's IP68-grade Micro USB 2.0 connector, using a MIM (metal injection molding) structure of stainless steel housing to achieve IP68-level protection Dust and water resistance.

Some industrial connector waterproof cases

Typical waterproof connector structure

Type-C waterproof connector

5. Automotive and medical fields

According to incomplete statistics, LSR / LIM applications in the automotive and medical fields have

Car:

       Seals and collector seals

Plug joint seal

Highly transparent lens

Radial seals

Standard single piece seal

O-ring

Spark plug protective cover

Finishing of steering wheel switch surface

medical health:

Sealed infusion system

Type circle dialysis filter

Hearing aid components

Tourniquet for blood sampling

Baby pacifier

Mother's nipple shield

Home appliance suction valve

Components for medical devices

LSR products in the automotive field

LSR products in the medical field

Liquid silicone medical supplies

6. Other fields

Liquid silicone nipple

Spray shower head, etc.

2. Market size of smart terminal waterproof silicone parts

Waterproof silicone structural parts used in the field of consumer electronics have high precision and process control requirements. The value of a single product is several times that of the silicone structural parts generally used in the mechanical hydraulic field and three-proof machine. It is expected that the future waterproof technology will accelerate penetration into the three major aspects of smartphones, tablets and wearable devices. Silicone sealing structural parts will be one of the basic essential components of devices using waterproof technology. Based on the global shipments of these three areas in the past three years and the penetration rate of waterproof technology, the market space of waterproof technology is estimated. By 2020, the market size of waterproof silicone structural parts is expected to reach more than 3 billion US dollars.

Market size of smart terminal waterproof silicone parts

Estimation of the market size of silicone waterproof structural parts

The popularity of mobile phones from Apple ’s Samsung and other flagship flagship phones to other mid- to high-end phones is expected to spread rapidly to increase penetration, and the industry is about to explode. At present, waterproof has become the standard for mobile phones such as Samsung and Apple. Domestic mobile phone brands Huawei, OPPO, VIVO, and Xiaomi have also added waterproof as one of the selling points to new mobile phones, such as Xiaomi 6, Huawei P9 and so on. Waterproof technology is expected to replicate the popularity of fingerprint recognition and other technologies, from Samsung and Apple ’s flagship mobile phones to other brands of high-end models first

In addition to smart terminal waterproofing, the potential market space for LSR / LIM precision processing technology in the automotive and medical health fields is also large. According to Markets & Markets estimates, automotive rubber parts are driven by increased use of light materials and improved emission standards, safety and fuel economy. It is expected to reach a market size of USD 40.5 billion by 2020, of which LSR is mainly used in the automotive field Surface processing of seals, O-rings and some parts of automobile power systems and electronic systems. The medical and health field is because LSR has good biological inertness, so it is widely used in medical devices, organs, medical supplies, plastic surgery and other fields. The vast space of the automotive and medical markets provides industry companies with high enough room for expansion.