Flexible injection molded parts: LSR vs. TPE
The first of these materials is liquid silicone rubber (LSR), a thermoset that requires its own special variant of the injection molding process. The other is a group of thermoplastics known as thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), which can be processed like conventional rigid thermoplastics but offer rubber-like properties.
This article examines the LSR vs. TPE injection molding discussion, comparing material properties, advantages and disadvantages, and suitable applications.