Urethane rubber is a strong, durable, and inexpensive material used in industrial manufacturing for mold making. It is easy to mix and apply, and can be poured, brushed, or sprayed onto hard casting materials. When used with a sealant and release agent, it can replicate sculptures or stamp designs in concrete. The resulting mold is reusable and available in various malleabilities.
Used exclusively in industrial manufacturing applications, urethane is a family of rubbers and plastics used in mold making. Urethane rubber is widely known for its tough properties, being resistant to abrasion, inexpensive, relatively easy to mix and apply, and flexible once formed into a mold. The molds are then used in industrial design projects, such as replicating sculptures or stamping designs in concrete. This makes urethane rubber one of the most economical mold rubber products ever used.
In the urethane family, this rubber is considered one of the strongest, most durable, and cheapest materials to work with compared to silicone. Although silicone does not require a spray release agent, it is not as resistant to abrasion and is therefore used in more delicate casting processes. Not only does urethane rubber have high tear strength, but it is reusable, holds its shape, and is available in a range of malleabilities.
When used in conjunction with a sealant and release agent, this type of rubber can be poured, brushed and sprayed onto an assortment of hard casting materials. Develops a water-like viscosity when in liquid form, making it easy to apply. It also has good cohesion when mixed with other forms of urethane rubber and incorporates well with fibers and foams, resulting in a more textured mold when needed.
A typical casting of a sculpture, for example, goes as follows:
The model to be cast is sealed at least twice with a sealant. This is especially important for models with porous properties; stone, wood, or water- or sulfur-based clay sculptures must be coated. The sealant layer must be allowed to cure before the next step. A release agent is applied to the sealed model. The person casting must mix and apply the rubber by brushing, spraying or pouring it onto the model. If changes to the mold are required, these must be done before the rubber fully cures. The model is demoulded by separating the mold from it. A precise and accurate impression of the model should now be indented in the urethane rubber mold. The resulting mold is now ready for reuse. A release agent must be applied indoors before launching additional models.
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