How to increase the number of times silicone molds can be used for casting?

Silicone molds are used for making handicrafts and figurines, but they suffer from problems such as low mold lifespan, easy tearing and deformation, and material waste. However, the problem isn't necessarily with the quality of the silicone! By paying attention to the following three details, you can effectively extend the mold's lifespan, reduce material consumption, and double the number of mold lifespans.

Silicone oil can improve the fluidity of silicone, but excessive silicone oil will directly damage the cross-linked structure of silicone molecules, making the internal structure of the mold loose. This will cause the silicone mold to become brittle quickly and its tensile strength to drop sharply. After only a few uses, problems such as edge cracking, tearing, and surface flaking will occur. In practice, if fine-tuning of viscosity is required, the manufacturer's standard ratio must be strictly followed, and unauthorized increases are strictly prohibited.

Choosing the wrong silicone hardness is a key reason for high mold-making losses; avoid making the same choice regardless of the type. Soft silicone is suitable for small items, figurines with intricate patterns, and miniature crafts. Hard silicone has poor toughness and high brittleness, easily tearing through fine lines during demolding, causing mold damage and rendering the mold unusable.

For large products such as cement and large resin ornaments, harder silicone should be used. Silicone that is too soft has weak tensile and deformation resistance, and the large pulling force during demolding of large parts can easily cause the mold cavity to deform and the dimensions to be out of shape, resulting in the scrapping of all replica products.

Materials such as resins and unsaturated polyesters release high temperatures during curing and are slightly corrosive. Ordinary silicone has poor heat resistance and corrosion resistance, and long-term use can easily lead to problems such as mold burning, whitening, swelling, and hardening failure, significantly reducing the number of times molds can be made.

For these types of applications, heat-resistant mold silicone must be used. Its optimized formula has the advantages of high temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, and high tear resistance. It can effectively resist high curing temperature and chemical erosion, and its durability far exceeds that of ordinary silicone, greatly reducing the waste of materials and labor caused by frequent mold opening.