Silicone rubber lends itself well for a variety of applications with different benefits to its name. While silicone molds and casts will take a day to cure properly, there is an option for making a quick mold.
Can there be anything more versatile than silicone rubber in the world of mold making and casting? The distinctiveness of this nifty material does not end with the fact that it can be easily used for making both molds and casts. Within the mold making genre itself, it lends itself well for general mold making of inanimate objects such as soaps, statues, figurines, candles, model furniture, ornaments and even fine art pieces.
The more popular use of silicone rubber is for special effects duplicating skin surfaces. There are special food-safe variants that can be used for making food molds and even skin-safe options for making body molds.
Getting to know Silicone Rubber
Silicone rubber is a two-part RTV material comprising of the rubber and the catalyst. It comes in two types – addition cure and condensation cure with the difference being in the catalyst which is platinum and tin respectively. Both types have their own distinct properties and usage.
Now, like every art material, silicone rubbers also have a specific pot time, set time and cure time. The pot time is the working window from the time the material is mixed till it remains usable. Set time is the time the material takes to dry while cure time is when the end product (mold or cast) is ready for use.
Generally, silicone tends to dry quickly with some formulations being dry to the touch within 30 minutes to an hour. This will also depend on the room temperature and humidity in certain cases. Curing takes longer and will usually require the silicone mold/cast to be left untouched for 24 hours. (The actual time will vary depending on the type of silicone, quality, purity, etc.) During this time, the silicone undergoes a complex process of chemical changes that occur slowly after it is exposed to oxygen. Only after this can the silicone be allowed to come into contact with water or other materials.
When artists look for faster curing, they are advised to work in a warm environment as this will hasten the curing. However, direct heat should never be applied to the silicone as it will not yield effective results. Moreover, it can impact the longevity of the silicone!
EnvironMolds has a better answer in the form of 5-Minute Mold Putty. This is a special formulation that allows for quick and easy mold making, that too without using a mold box. As the name goes, the mold will actually be ready within minutes and can be cast immediately. What’s more, it complies with FDA standards and can be used for food contact as well. Therefore, a one-off silicone mold can be easily made in a jiffy!
Coming from such a renowned and reliable art supplier, the quality and safety is definitely above reproach.