Liquid silicone rubber (LSR) is an elastomer that is vulcanized and cross-linked in the atmosphere or underheating with a small amount of water as the initiator or platinum as the catalyst. It is divided into one-component and two-component ( Multi-component) two types, according to the type of reaction can be divided into condensation type or addition type liquid silicone rubber. Liquid silicone rubber does not contain any stabilizers, plasticizers or accelerators, and as a cross-linked material, it can withstand very high temperatures without thermal aging and can maintain its mechanical properties and elasticity. By changing certain side groups on it, it is possible to modify the material to meet specific functions or requirements. LSR has excellent chemical resistance, oil resistance and weather resistance, and can be kept stable in the temperature range of 50°C to 180°C. After adding stabilizers, it can be kept stable at temperatures higher than 250°C and can be used at -60 ℃ has low-temperature flexibility. LSR is usually transparent, other pigments can be added as needed, and it is very easy to color. It is widely used in electronic component sealing, pipe sealing, medical equipment, keyboards and baby-related products. The application of liquid silicone rubber in 3D printing, waterproofing, coating, food contact silicone and wearable parts has great potential for development. Of course, the application in the automotive industry has also achieved a full range of coverage, such as connectors in the automotive industry, electric vehicle battery seals, engine gaskets, headlight seals and shock absorbers, etc., to provide sealing, heat insulation and protective interior application solutions.

Rapidly changing technological trends in electric vehicle manufacturing are driving silicone manufacturers to adopt innovative approaches to produce custom products. The solution of liquid silicone rubber in new energy vehicles mainly has four applications: sealing and waterproof, safety protection, structural heat conduction, and lightweight. Liquid Silicone Rubber Elastomer is the most prominent product segment in the electric vehicle market and its growth can be attributed to its wide range of applications such as seals, housings and gaskets for thermal insulation of various components such as connector seals, heat sinks, etc., to form a heat shield around the battery pack, protecting the battery cells from overheating or overcooling. Additionally, custom designs can insulate or help dissipate heat to ensure optimal operating temperatures. For harsh spaces, silicone is designed to withstand severe vibration. Short circuits and overcurrent are the main causes of battery failure in electric vehicles. The dielectric properties of silicone rubber can protect and isolate key components, making batteries and bus bars safe from electrical surges and helping to prevent battery fires.

In new energy vehicles, liquid silicone potting glue is mainly used in the lithium battery pack, which plays the role of heat dissipation, flame retardant, insulation, waterproofing, etc., which greatly improves the power safety of new energy vehicles. Lithium batteries are sensitive to moisture, and the sealing directly affects the working safety of the battery system and the use safety of electric vehicles. From the perspective of development history, silicone has undergone product upgrades in terms of sealing and waterproofing: one-component gasket-free glue-foaming sealing ring-on-line foaming silicone. However, the proportion of liquid silicone potting glue is relatively large, which will increase the weight of the battery pack, reduce the energy ratio per unit volume, and ultimately affect the energy density. How to realize the lightweight of liquid silicone is an urgent problem to be solved by silicone companies. At present, online foamed silica gel is favored in the new energy vehicle industry, and is suitable for application scenarios such as sealing and waterproofing of power batteries, shock-absorbing protection of soft-packed cells, thermal insulation of battery packs, and lightweight.