A recently announced strategic partnership between silicon supplier Momentive and Sigma Engineering, maker of Sigmasoft injection molding simulation software, will add value for silicon processors, the companies noted in a press release.
Optimizing material data
The partnership aims to optimize material data available to processors as well as improve process simulation. “The challenge is to produce precision components with high demands that simultaneously exhibit the highest thermal expansion and highest compressibility of any elastomer,” Sigma Engineering said in a release. “The more precise the data about the material and the understanding of the material, the better the predictions made by the simulation.”
Improved reliability of simulation results
According to Sigma Engineering, consideration of process parameters is usually not part of conventional material data. Using data from actual injection molding to refine and calibrate material specifications will improve the reliability of the simulation results as well as the material data itself, the company said.
The synergies generated by the partnership will produce something greater than the sum of the two parts and offer additional value to the silicon and silicon derivatives market, according to Thomas Klein, CEO of Sigma Engineering.
Far-reaching production potential
Holger Albrecht, vice president and head of the Elastomer business unit at Momentive, agrees. “The more precise the material data in liquid silicone rubber processing, the more accurate the simulation can be. This is certainly an advantage for companies in the silicone processing industry because there is potential for far-reaching optimizations in the production process.”
Signal software for virtual molding simulation from Sigma Engineering integrates multiple process-specific models and 3D simulation technologies that are developed, validated and continuously optimized. The more than 25-year-old company is located in Aachen, Germany.
Momentive supplies advanced silicones and specialty materials to a range of industries worldwide. The company is headquartered in Schenectady, NY.