How can rubber strap seals achieve a balance between high elasticity and aging resistance to ensure no deformation during long-term wear?
Publish Time: 2025-10-30
In the design of modern smart wearable devices and traditional watches, rubber strap seals are highly favored for their excellent comfort, water resistance, and durability. However, consumers often face the problem of strap deformation, hardening, or loss of elasticity during long-term wear. Therefore, achieving an effective balance between high elasticity and aging resistance has become a core challenge in rubber strap development. This not only concerns the wearing experience but also directly affects the product's lifespan and brand reputation.1. Material Selection: Laying the Foundation for PerformanceThe performance of rubber straps depends first and foremost on the choice of base materials. Currently, the mainstream materials used are high-performance synthetic rubbers such as thermoplastic elastomers, silicone rubber, and fluororubber. Among them, silicone rubber is the first choice for high-end straps due to its excellent biocompatibility, high and low temperature resistance, and excellent electrical insulation. TPE is widely used in the mid-range market due to its convenient processing and moderate cost. Although fluororubber is more expensive, its excellent oil resistance, chemical corrosion resistance, and UV resistance make it particularly suitable for outdoor or extreme environments. Scientific material selection lays a solid foundation for high elasticity and aging resistance from the outset.2. Formulation Optimization: The Key to Balanced PerformanceA single rubber material cannot simultaneously meet the stringent requirements of high elasticity and aging resistance; therefore, formulation design becomes a core technology. Adding reinforcing fillers can significantly improve the tensile strength and tear resistance of rubber, preventing permanent deformation of the strap after repeated stretching. Simultaneously, introducing antioxidants and anti-ozone agents effectively inhibits chain breakage and cross-linking reactions in rubber under the influence of light, oxygen, and ozone, slowing down the aging process. Furthermore, appropriate amounts of plasticizers can improve processing flowability and maintain the softness of the rubber, but the dosage must be strictly controlled to avoid precipitation leading to "oiliness" or stickiness. Modern formulations often employ multi-component synergistic systems, using orthogonal experiments and accelerated aging tests to precisely control the proportions of each component, achieving optimal performance.3. Structural Design and Process Control: Enhancing Overall ReliabilityBesides materials and formulation, the structural design and manufacturing process of the strap are equally crucial. The hollow or honeycomb internal structure ensures wearing comfort while reducing material stress concentration and improving resilience. The connection between the strap and the case is often designed as a movable hinge or flexible transition zone to distribute bending stress during wear and prevent localized fatigue cracking. In terms of manufacturing processes, precision injection molding ensures dimensional stability and surface finish; secondary vulcanization improves the cross-linking network of rubber molecules, further enhancing heat resistance and elasticity retention. Furthermore, surface treatment technologies such as plasma spraying or nano-coating enhance resistance to dirt and sweat corrosion, extending the lifespan of the strap.4. Environmental Adaptability and Long-Term ValidationTo ensure the strap maintains stable performance in real-world environments, rigorous environmental simulation testing is essential. This includes high-temperature and high-humidity aging tests, accelerated UV aging, salt spray corrosion tests, and repeated bending fatigue tests. These tests assess the strap's elasticity decay rate, hardness changes, and appearance degradation under extreme conditions. Advanced companies also incorporate actual user wearing data to develop lifespan prediction models and continuously optimize product design. For example, for users in tropical regions, the focus is on enhancing resistance to damp heat and aging; for athletes, the emphasis is on improving resistance to sweat corrosion and mechanical fatigue.In summary, achieving a long-term balance between high elasticity and aging resistance in rubber straps requires systematic innovation across material selection, formulation design, structural optimization, and process control. With the development of new material technologies, future rubber straps will not only be more durable but also more environmentally friendly and intelligent, providing users with a lasting and comfortable wearing experience.
