Mold material for Superfoam 320

Mellisa
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Mold material for Superfoam 320 Jul 19, 2016 6:48:27 GMT -5

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Post by Mellisa on Jul 19, 2016 6:48:27 GMT -5

Hi!

In the Superfoam 320 technical specs I read that the urethane foam can use non-silicone mold: aluminium, urethane elastomers, latex, etc. May I know if I can use any of the following materials:

polycarbonate

ABS
nylon

Aside from those 3, is there any other hard materials (plastics) that can be cut in CNC other than aluminum that can be used as a mold for Superfoam320? The reason we cannot use silicone mold is because during the foam expansion it distorts the surface and the surface doesn't come out even.

Thanks!

Mellisa

carol - Alumilite Corp
Global Moderator

Posts: 411

Mold material for Superfoam 320 Jul 19, 2016 9:29:06 GMT -5

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Post by carol - Alumilite Corp on Jul 19, 2016 9:29:06 GMT -5

Mellisa,

The Super Foam 320 is a polyurethane, the nature of the polyurethane resins are they typically bond to everything but silicone. If you are using anything other than silicone you will need to use some kind of silicone release.

What are the undercuts/back drafts on this piece. That could be an issue as those types of products will work but they don't flex to release the more complicated pieces. For a simple piece, with all areas of the mold covered well and a good silicone release ... it should work.

Regards,

Carol

Mellisa
Guest

Mold material for Superfoam 320 Jul 26, 2016 16:02:42 GMT -5

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Post by Mellisa on Jul 26, 2016 16:02:42 GMT -5

I used a simple piece mold made from Polyethylene then I put mold release agent (Ease release 2831 from Smooth on). After that, I poured the Super Foam 320. The foam was grabing the mold really hard that it's difficult to remove the foam without breaking the foam itself.

There is no undercut in this piece at all.

Is there any other release that would work better?

mike
Moderator

Posts: 295

Mold material for Superfoam 320 Jul 27, 2016 14:18:23 GMT -5

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Post by mike on Jul 27, 2016 14:18:23 GMT -5

Once you machine the Polyethylene it becomes really porous. I believe its the porosity that is getting you. Even though the release should be separating the PE and SuperFoam 320, there is a ton of surface texture. You might want to throw a coat of carnuba or paste wax in the mold to fill in the microscopic cracks and "seal" it, then spray release over the wax. If you can get rid of the porosity that the SuperFoam 320 is flowing and expanding into, it should release more easily.

Mike

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Mold material for Superfoam 320

Post by Mellisa on Jul 19, 2016 6:48:27 GMT -5

Post by carol - Alumilite Corp on Jul 19, 2016 9:29:06 GMT -5

Post by Mellisa on Jul 26, 2016 16:02:42 GMT -5

Post by mike on Jul 27, 2016 14:18:23 GMT -5

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