For friends who are just getting started with silicone mold making, preparing tools and materials is the first step in the work. Below we have compiled a list of tools and materials used to make silicone mold casting products, you can choose and prepare according to your actual situation.
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1. RTV-2 Liquid Silicone
The necessary raw materials for making silicone molds. There are currently two types of rtv-2 silicone on the market: condensation silicone (tin curing) and addition silicone (platinum curing). You can purchase suitable raw materials according to your needs.
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2. Polyurethane Resin
Polyurethane Resin is a material that is very convenient to use, only need to mix the AB components at 1:1 and mix well, about 3 to 5 minutes to start curing, fully cured wait for about 15 minutes can be released from the mold. After curing, the products have low shrinkage and good handfeel. Of course, you can also choose ABS or epoxy resin and other materials.
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3. Mold Frame
Used to build the mold frame, try to choose the smooth material to facilitate the release of the mold, such as building blocks, acrylic panels, etc., such as cardboard boxes or wooden boards can be wrapped with transparent tape first.
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4. Release Agent
Prevent silicone from sticking together with the model after curing to avoid causing difficulties in mold release. There are three common release agents: neutral, water-based and oil-based, and silicone oil and white petroleum jelly can also be used.
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5. Plasticine
Generally, the production of bivalve silicone mold will use plasticine, which is used to cushion the bottom of the flat mold frame. It can be recycled and can be pinched by hand. If it is hard, it needs to be heated or placed in the sun to make it soft before use. If you use addition silicone (platinum cured silicone), you should use sulfur-free clay, otherwise it will affect the curing of platinum silicone.
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6. Hot Melt Gun
It is used to fix the model or build the mold frame, and used to seal the gap around the mold frame when building it.
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7. Electronic Scale
For weighing the proportion of two-component materials, we recommend a special electronic scale made of stainless steel (corrosion-resistant and easy to clean), with an accuracy of 1g and a tare function.
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8. Mixing Container and Stirring Rod
For mixing and stirring raw materials, you can choose a measuring cup as the mixing container, the container should choose a slightly larger capacity to prevent overflow when vacuum defoaming, stirring bar should choose a flat shape similar to a ruler, round stirring bar is not easy to operate.
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9. Brush
It can be used to apply paste Vaseline release agent and liquid silicone. If there is no vacuum pump using a brush to apply silicone on the surface of the model first can reduce air bubbles. A disposable brush should be selected, because it is difficult to clean after the brush is stuck with liquid silicone.
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10. Vacuum
For the vacuum defoaming of raw materials, if there is no vacuum pump should choose low viscosity liquid silicone raw materials, otherwise the made silicone molds have bubbles affecting the beauty.
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11. Ovens
It is used to bake materials that need to be cured faster by raising the temperature.
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12. Refrigerator
It is used for freezing to reduce the activity of the material in order to extend the operation time to achieve the elimination of air bubbles. If there is no vacuum pump for degassing, this is an effective solution.