Press Photos

Textile with integrated sensors of ELASTOSIL^® Film from WACKER. The mechanical expansion and tensile movements cause changes in capacitance in the sensor. Their subtle nuances can be measured and thereby used for sensory purposes, for example to make body movements visible. Thanks to these kinds of sensors, the future holds entirely new possibilities to virtually display movements – for instance for therapy or training purposes. At K 2016 in Düsseldorf, WACKER will present the first functional prototype in hall 6, booth A10.

To determine the compression set of an elastomer, a test specimen is compressed to a predefined extent, stored under testing conditions, for example superheated steam, and released after a specific period of time. The results of such tests can serve as a basis for deciding whether gaskets made from ELASTOSIL^® LR 3020/60 (blue) exhibit sufficient elastic recovery in a sealing application when exposed to hot water or steam.

Comparison of the stiffness of a standard liquid silicone rubber (blue, on the right) and that of ELASTOSIL^® LR 3003/90 (yellow). Because of its hard-ness – 90 Shore A – and its high dimensional stability, the yellow sheet made of the new silicone rubber hardly bends. WACKER, the Munich-based chemical company, is presenting the new product at the K show in Düsseldorf, Germany, for the very first time.

At K 2016, WACKER is presenting applications of ELASTOSIL^® Film. The ultrathin films are manufactured under cleanroom conditions at WACKER’s Burghausen site in Germany.

WACKER’s US subsidiary Wacker Chemical Corporation runs a technical center as part of its offices and manufacturing facility at its headquarters located in Adrian, Michigan. Now, the company decided to expand its research capacities by establishing additional R&D labs in Ann Arbor, MI.