Econ™ 80

Instructions

Preparation - Store and use at room temperature (73°F/23°C). Environmental humidity should be as low as possible. Good ventilation (room size) is essential. This product has a limited shelf life and should be used as soon as possible. Wear safety glasses, long sleeves and rubber gloves to minimize contamination risk.

Some Materials Must Be Sealed - To prevent adhesion between the rubber and model surface, models made of porous materials (gypsum plasters, concrete, wood, stone, etc.) must be sealed prior to applying a release agent. SuperSeal™ and One Step™ (available from Smooth-On) fast drying sealers suitable for sealing porous surfaces without interfering with surface detail. A high quality Shellac is suitable for sealing modeling clays that contain sulfur or moisture (water based). Thermoplastics (polystyrene) must also be sealed with shellac or PVA. In all cases, the sealing agent should be applied and allowed to completely dry prior to applying a release agent.

Non-Porous Surfaces - Metal, glass, hard plastics, sulfur free clays, etc. require only a release agent.

Applying A Release Agent - A release agent is necessary to facilitate demolding when casting into or over most surfaces. Use a release agent made specifically for mold making (Universal™ Mold Release available from Smooth-On). A liberal coat of release agent should be applied onto all surfaces that will contact the rubber.

IMPORTANT: To ensure thorough coverage, lightly brush the release agent with a soft brush over all surfaces of the model. Follow with a light mist coating and let the release agent dry for 30 minutes.

Because no two applications are quite the same, a small test application to determine suitability for your project is recommended if performance of this material is in question.

MEASURING & MIXING - Liquid urethanes are moisture sensitive and will absorb atmospheric moisture. Mixing tools and containers should be clean and made of metal, glass or plastic. Materials should be stored and used in a warm environment (73°F/23°C).

IMPORTANT: Shelf life of product is drastically reduced after opening. Immediately replacing the lids on both containers after dispensing product will prolong the shelf life of the unused product. XTEND-IT™ Dry Gas Blanket (available from Smooth-On) will significantly prolong the shelf life of unused liquid urethane products.

IMPORTANT: Pre Mix the Part B before using. After dispensing the proper amounts of Parts A and B into mixing container, drill mix thoroughly for 2 minutes using a Squirrel Mixer or equivalent. Then, use a straight edged paddle and mix by hand, making sure that you scrape the sides and bottom of the mixing container several times.

Use the ‘Double Mix and Pour Technique’ - Pour mixture into a new, clean mixing container. Drill mix and then hand mix again for another 3 minutes, scraping the sides and bottom of your container.

After mixing parts A and B, vacuum degassing is recommended to eliminate any entrapped air in liquid rubber. Your vacuum pump must pull a minimum of 29 inches of mercury (or 1 Bar / 100 KPa). Leave enough room in container for material expansion. Vacuum material until it rises, breaks and falls. Vacuum for 1 minute after material falls. A pressure casting technique using a pressure chamber can yield totally bubble-free rubber. Contact Smooth-On or your distributor for further information about vacuum degassing or pressure casting.

Pouring - For best results, pour your mixture in a single spot at the lowest point of the containment field. Let the rubber seek its level up and over the model. A uniform flow will help minimize entrapped air. The liquid rubber should level off at least 1/2” (1.3 cm) over the highest point of the model surface.

Curing - Allow rubber to cure overnight (at least 24 hours) at room temperature (73°F/23°C) before demolding. Cure time can be reduced with mild heat or by adding Smooth-On Kick-It™ Cure Accelerator. Do not cure rubber where temperature is less than 65°F/18°C.

Post Curing - After rubber has cured at room temperature, heating the rubber to 150°F (65°C) for 4 to 8 hours will increase physical properties and performance.

Using The Mold - If using as a mold material, a release agent should be applied to the mold before each casting. The type of release agent to use depends on the material being cast. The proper release agent for wax, liquid rubber or thermosetting materials (i.e. Smooth-On liquid plastics) is a spray release made specifically for mold making (available from Smooth-On or your distributor). Prior to casting gypsum plaster materials, sponge the mold with a soap solution for better plaster flow and easy release. Aquacon™ Water Based Release Concentrate (available from Smooth-On) is recommended for releasing abrasive materials like concrete.

Performance & Storage - Fully cured rubber is tough, durable and will perform if properly used and stored. The physical life of the rubber depends on how you use it.

Related Categories: Urethane Rubber

Related Series: Econ™ Series – Economical Mold Making Rubber