Hardness Standards for Silicone Toys: In-depth Analysis for International Wholesale Buyers

Hardness Standards for Silicone Toys: In-depth Analysis for International Wholesale Buyers
In today’s globalized business environment, silicone toys are favored by the international market for their unique texture, rich creativity and wide applicability. For merchants engaged in international wholesale purchases of silicone toys, it is crucial to understand the hardness standards for silicone toys. This not only affects the quality and performance of the toys, but also affects their market competitiveness and consumers’ purchasing experience. This article will explore the hardness standards for silicone toys in depth, aiming to provide comprehensive, professional and practical information for international wholesale buyers.

I. Hardness Standards: Core Indicators of Silicone Toy Quality
(I) Definition and Measurement of Hardness
Hardness is a physical quantity that measures the material’s ability to resist deformation. For silicone toys, it determines the softness and resilience of the toy when subjected to external force. In the industrial field, the hardness of silicone toys is usually measured by Shore Hardness. Shore Hardness Tester is a common tool for measuring the hardness of silicone toys. Its principle is to use a pressure needle of a specified shape to press into the surface of the silicone toy under standard spring pressure, and determine the hardness value based on the depth of the pressure needle. The deeper the indentation depth, the lower the hardness value; the shallower the indentation depth, the higher the hardness value.
(II) Standard range of hardness
Generally speaking, the hardness range of silicone toys is relatively wide. The common Shore A hardness is between 30 and 70 degrees, and the Shore OO hardness is between 20 and 100 degrees. Silicone toys of different hardness are suitable for different application scenarios and toy types. For example, super soft silicone toys (Shore OO below 30 degrees) are suitable for making baby comfort toys, simulated animals and other products that require high softness and comfortable touch; while silicone toys with higher hardness (Shore A above 60 degrees) are often used to make puzzle toys, model toys and other products that require certain structural strength and durability.

II. Factors affecting the hardness of silicone toys
(I) Basic material formula
The different formulas of silicone itself are one of the key factors affecting the hardness of its toys. By adjusting the proportion of basic polymers, cross-linking agents, fillers and other components in the silicone raw materials, the hardness of silicone toys can be effectively regulated. For example, increasing the filler content usually increases the hardness of silicone toys, but may also affect their transparency and elasticity; while reducing the filler content will make the toys softer, but may lead to a decrease in strength.
(II) Curing process
Curing is a key link in the production process of silicone toys, and its process conditions have a significant impact on the hardness of the toys. Vulcanization time is an important parameter in the curing process. Insufficient vulcanization time may lead to incomplete curing of silicone toys, resulting in low hardness and poor physical properties and chemical stability of the toys; too long vulcanization time may cause the toys to be over-cured, resulting in high hardness, reduced toughness, and easy brittle cracking. In addition, vulcanization temperature also has an important influence on hardness. Higher vulcanization temperature usually accelerates the cross-linking reaction speed of silicone rubber and increases the hardness of toys, but too high a temperature may cause defects such as burning and discoloration on the surface of the toy, affecting the appearance quality and performance of the toy.
(III) Use of additives
In order to meet specific toy performance requirements or improve production processes, various additives such as plasticizers, stabilizers, pigments, etc. are often added to silicone. The addition of plasticizers can reduce the hardness of silicone toys and improve their softness and processability, but excessive plasticizers may reduce the durability and weather resistance of toys and may affect the safety of toys, so the amount of plasticizers used needs to be strictly controlled. Stabilizers are mainly used to improve the thermal stability and chemical stability of silicone toys during use. Their effect on hardness is relatively small, but when selecting stabilizers, their compatibility with silicone and their comprehensive impact on toy performance need to be considered.

III. Application scenarios and case analysis of silicone toys with different hardness

(I) Super soft silicone toys (below 30 degrees of Shaw OO)
Super soft silicone toys are widely used in the field of baby toys due to their excellent softness and comfortable touch. For example, baby pacifiers are a typical super soft silicone toy product. Its hardness is usually between 10 and 30 degrees of Shaw OO. This low hardness can simulate the texture of the mother’s nipple, making the baby feel comfortable and at ease when sucking, and effectively relieve the baby’s crying mood. Moreover, ultra-soft silicone has good elasticity and toughness. Even during the intense sucking and biting of babies, it is not easy to break or deform, ensuring the safety and durability of the toys.
(II) Soft silicone toys (Shore A type 30 degrees to 50 degrees)
Soft silicone toys occupy an important position in the children’s toy market. Common products include soft animal dolls, jelly-colored toy balls, etc. Taking soft animal dolls as an example, their hardness is usually around 40 degrees of Shore A. This hardness makes the dolls soft to the touch and have a certain elasticity. Children can easily grasp, hug and squeeze the dolls, which increases the fun and interactivity of playing. At the same time, soft silicone toys also have good fall resistance and deformation resistance. Even if they are subject to certain collisions and falls during children’s daily play, they can maintain a good appearance and performance, extending the service life of the toys.
(III) Medium hardness silicone toys (Shore A type 50 degrees to 70 degrees)
Medium hardness silicone toys are widely used in the field of puzzle toys and model toys. For example, the hardness of some silicone puzzle toy parts is about 60 degrees on the Shore A scale. This hardness can ensure that the parts have sufficient strength and stability during the puzzle process and will not be easily deformed or damaged due to external forces. At the same time, silicone toys with medium hardness also have good wear resistance and scratch resistance, and can maintain a smooth and intact surface during frequent puzzles and play, enhancing the beauty and attractiveness of the toys.

IV. International standards and certification: ensuring the dual guarantee of hardness and safety of silicone toys
(I) International toy safety standards Overview
In the international market, toy safety standards have strict requirements for the hardness and related properties of silicone toys. For example, the EU Toy Safety Directive and the US Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSC) have comprehensively regulated the mechanical, physical, and chemical properties of toys to ensure that toys will not cause harm to children under normal use and foreseeable abuse. These standards not only involve the hardness of toys, but also include the strength, elasticity, durability of toys, and the toxicity and flammability of the materials used, aiming to provide children with a safe and healthy play environment.
(II) The relationship between hardness and safety
From the perspective of safety, the hardness of silicone toys is closely related to their safety. If the hardness of a toy is too high, it may cause the toy to break easily or produce sharp edges when it is impacted, thereby increasing the risk of injury to children, such as cuts and scratches. In addition, toys that are too hard may also cause more serious damage to the child’s digestive tract when swallowed by children. On the contrary, if the hardness of a toy is low, although it improves the softness and safety of the toy to a certain extent, it may also lead to insufficient structural strength of the toy, which is easy to deform, damage, or even release small parts during play, causing safety accidents such as suffocation hazards. Therefore, when designing and producing silicone toys, it is necessary to reasonably determine the hardness range of the toy based on factors such as the type of toy, the age group of use, and the method of use, and strictly follow the requirements of international toy safety standards to ensure the safety and reliability of the toy.
(III) Certification process and significance
In order to prove that silicone toys meet international safety standards, toy manufacturers usually need to apply for relevant certifications, such as the EU CE certification and the US ASTM F963 certification. The application process for these certifications generally includes multiple links such as product testing, document review, and factory inspection. Passing these certifications can not only enhance the competitiveness and credibility of toys in the international market and increase consumers’ purchasing confidence, but also provide a framework for toy manufacturers to standardize production and quality control, which will help improve the quality and safety level of the entire toy industry.

V. Hardness considerations for buyers when selecting silicone toy suppliers
(I) Supplier’s technical strength
The supplier’s technical strength is one of the key factors to ensure that the hardness of silicone toys meets the requirements. Suppliers with advanced production equipment and mature production processes can more accurately control the hardness of silicone toys and ensure the quality and stability of the products. For example, some suppliers use advanced injection molding equipment and automated hardness testing systems to achieve precise control and real-time monitoring of the hardness of toys, thereby producing high-quality silicone toys with uniform hardness and stable performance.
(II) Quality control system
A complete quality control system can effectively ensure the hardness consistency of silicone toys. When selecting suppliers, buyers should pay attention to whether the supplier has a strict quality control process. From raw material procurement, production process monitoring to finished product inspection, each link should have clear quality standards and testing methods. For example, suppliers should conduct hardness tests on each batch of silicone raw materials to ensure that the quality of the raw materials meets the requirements; during the production process, semi-finished products and finished products should be sampled and tested regularly to promptly discover and correct problems such as hardness deviation; the final product should be fully inspected or sampled to ensure that the hardness of each silicone toy is within the specified range and meets the customer’s quality requirements.
(III) Sample testing and evaluation
Before cooperating with suppliers, buyers should ask suppliers to provide samples and conduct professional testing and evaluation of the hardness of the samples. By actually testing the hardness of the samples, you can intuitively understand the supplier’s production capacity and quality control level and judge whether it can meet its own procurement needs. In addition, buyers can also conduct other performance tests on the samples, such as tensile strength, tear strength, abrasion resistance, etc., to comprehensively evaluate the quality and applicability of the samples. If the hardness or other performance indicators of the samples do not meet the requirements, the buyers should communicate with the suppliers in a timely manner and ask them to improve the production process or adjust the raw material formula until the samples meet satisfactory standards.

VI. The impact of hardness on the performance and user experience of silicone toys
(I) Play experience
The hardness of silicone toys directly affects children’s feelings during play. Soft silicone toys can bring children a comfortable and warm tactile experience, allowing children to feel happy and relaxed when playing. For example, some soft silicone stuffed animal dolls, when children hug and touch them, they seem to be interacting with real animals, which increases the emotional factors and fun of playing. Silicone toys with medium hardness are more suitable for some operations that require a certain amount of strength and skills, such as puzzle toys, model assembly toys, etc., which can exercise children’s hand-eye coordination and hands-on ability, and increase the challenge and sense of achievement of playing.
(II) Durability
Silicone toys with moderate hardness usually have good durability. They can resist external forces such as extrusion, stretching and friction to a certain extent, and are not prone to breakage, deformation and other problems, thereby extending the service life of the toys. For example, some silicone toys used for outdoor play, such as silicone balls, silicone frisbees, etc., usually have a hardness between 50 and 60 degrees of Shaw A. This hardness not only ensures the stability and elasticity of the toys during throwing and catching, but also can withstand various wear and collisions in the outdoor environment, so that the toys can maintain good performance and appearance for a long time.
(III) Safety guarantee
Appropriate hardness can provide important guarantee for children’s safety in play. As mentioned above, toys that are too hard or too soft may pose safety hazards. Therefore, choosing silicone toys with hardness that meet the standards can effectively reduce the risk of children getting injured during play. For example, some silicone baby teether toys usually have a hardness between 30 and 40 degrees of Shaw A. This hardness can not only meet the needs of babies to chew and massage their gums during teething, but also will not cause damage to the delicate gums and oral cavity of babies. At the same time, it is not easy to break or produce small parts during the chewing process of babies, ensuring the safety of toys.

VII. Customized silicone toy hardness: solutions to meet special needs
(I) Customer groups with special hardness requirements
In the international market, some customers may have special customized requirements for the hardness of silicone toys. For example, some rehabilitation institutions may need to customize silicone toys with lower hardness for children with special needs to help them with sensory training and rehabilitation treatment. These children may have weak control over hand strength and need softer, easier to grasp and operate toys to promote the development of hand muscles and improve coordination. In addition, some high-end brands or designers will also require customized silicone toys with specific hardness based on their unique design concepts and product positioning to achieve differentiation and innovation of their products and attract the attention of specific consumer groups.
(II) Technical means to achieve customized hardness
In order to meet customers’ special hardness requirements, silicone toy manufacturers usually use a variety of technical means for customized production. First, adjusting the silicone formula is one of the common methods to achieve customized hardness. Manufacturers can accurately match the proportions of components such as base polymers, crosslinkers, fillers and additives in silicone raw materials according to customer needs to formulate silicone materials with the required hardness. Secondly, in terms of production technology, manufacturers can further fine-tune the hardness of toys by optimizing vulcanization process parameters such as vulcanization temperature and vulcanization time. In addition, special processing technologies such as secondary vulcanization and surface treatment can also be used to improve and optimize the hardness and surface properties of toys to meet customers’ customized requirements.
(III) The importance of communication and collaboration
In the process of customizing the hardness of silicone toys, communication and collaboration between buyers and suppliers are crucial. Buyers need to clearly convey to suppliers their specific requirements for the hardness of toys, including the expected hardness range, the use scenarios of toys, and the target user groups. At the same time, suppliers should promptly feedback to buyers on possible problems and solutions in the production process, such as the balance between hardness and other properties of toys, the feasibility of production processes, etc. Through close communication and collaboration between the two parties, it can be ensured that the hardness of customized silicone toys meets customer needs, and a win-win situation can be achieved on the premise of ensuring the quality and safety of toys.

In summary, the hardness standard of silicone toys is one of the key factors affecting their quality, performance and market competitiveness. For international wholesale buyers, in-depth understanding of the hardness measurement method, standard range, influencing factors, and application scenarios of toys with different hardness of silicone toys will help make wise decisions in the procurement process, select suitable suppliers and products, and meet the needs of different customers. At the same time, paying attention to international toy safety standards and certifications to ensure that the purchased silicone toys meet the requirements in terms of hardness and safety can lay a solid foundation for the long-term development of the company. When facing customers with special hardness requirements, actively exploring customized solutions and strengthening communication and collaboration with suppliers will open up a broader market space for enterprises and enhance their core competitiveness.