EFFECT OF LOADING AND SYRINGING ON VOID FORMATION IN AUTOMIXED ADDITION SILICONE ELASTOMERS

The effect of loading and syringing on void formation in five automixe d addition silicones was evaluated by determining the voids created in the first and second halves of material loaded and dispensed from a m etal syringe. Impressions were made of a model with six stainless-stee l cylinders. The voids were counted at a predetermined site on 3 separ ate days using a binocular microscope at x7 magnification. Automixed a ddition silicones did not confirm the 'last out-fewer bubbles' phenome non and specific loading and syringing technique did not appear to hav e a consistent effect on void formation in automixed elastomers.