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Dutch Safety Datasheet | 867 KB | |
Safety Datasheet (SDS) | 814 KB | |
Technical Datasheet (TDS) | 244 KB |
Colour | Clear | |
---|---|---|
Chemistry / Material | RTV Silicone Rubber | |
Viscosity | 50000 | mPa.s |
Pot Life (Typical) | 30 | mins |
Initial Cure Time | 24 | Hrs |
Max Service Temp | 250 | °C |
---|---|---|
Hardness | 40 (Flexible) | Shore A |
Flexibility | Flexible |
Gross Weight | 0.581 | kg |
---|
This product is not classed as dangerous goods for transport and can be shipped to all destinations without restriction.
Shipping to EU countries is now done through our European subsidiary based in the Netherlands. All EU customers should use www.easycomposites.eu.
There are no package size restrictions or surcharges for this product.
To find the delivery cost of this item to your address, add it to your basket and then use the instant shipping calculator on the basket page.
AS40 is a professional quality addition cure (also known as platinum cure) RTV silicone rubber suitable for the production of silicone moulds and silicone mouldings/components. Unpigmented silicone and catalyst, cures translucent to a 40 shore A (medium flexible) hardness. AS40 requires degassing for best results.
Sold as a kit (silicone and catalyst). Available to buy online in 500g, 1kg, 5kg and 27.5kg kits.
AVAILABILITY:More than 10 availablefor immediate shipping
If you believe you’re buying an equivalent product cheaper elsewhere, contact us to discuss your requirements.
AS40 is a high quality 'addition cure' (platinum cure) silicone rubber for more demanding mould making applications.
Addition cure rtv silicone should be used in applications where very accurate dimensional reproduction of an original part is required such as in rapid prototyping, where higher temperature tolerance is required or where the maximum number of repetitive releases will be possible.
Our addition cure silicone has been chosen for its excellent dimension reproduction; it is incredibly low shrink and therefore can be used to make a mould for prototype parts that interconnect (like a nut and bolt) to engineering tolerances. It has excellent styrene and polyurethane resistance and a high tear strength.
Translucent Colour
AS40 is unpigmented and highly translucence, making it particularly suitable for use both in making moulds where being able to see the casting inside is helpful, and for making silicone components where its clear appearance mean it can be easily pigmented to any colour, including pure black or white, or vivid red and blue, which is not possible to achieve when using opaque silicones or those which use a pigmented catalyst as a visual indicator.
In common with all clear silicones, because both the silicone and the catalyst are clear, this does mean there is no visual indication as the catalyst is mixed into the silicone and so extra care should be taken to ensure they are thoroughly combined. In applications where the silicone does not need to be clear, a small amount of one of our liquid silicone pigments can be added to the AS40 catalyst before it is added to the silicone, thus providing a visual indication of when the catalyst is fully combined.
Vacuum Level for Successful Degassing
To achieve its excellent properties for tear-strength, stability and longevity, AS40 does have a higher viscosity compared to less high-specification silicones. This high viscosity does tend to mean more air entrapment during mixing and also means that only very high levels of vacuum will achieve the ‘self-collapsing’ point necessary to fully degas the silicone. Situations where AS40 does not seem to fully degas under vacuum can be resolved by fixing small leaks in vacuum fittings, or by servicing worn-out vacuum pumps.
Suggested Uses
Use our AS40 Addition Cure Rubber to produce accurate moulds of complicated parts, precisely reproducing the dimensions of the original part. Completed silicone moulds can be used for repetitive casting applications, ceramics, vacuum casting and general mould making.
Advantages
How to Buy
Easy Composites' AS40 Addition Cure Silicone Rubber is available in four different pack sizes: 0.5kg, 1kg, 5kg and 27.5kg. All packs include the correct ratio of silicone rubber and catalyst (hardener). Please choose the pack size you want from the drop-down list.
Further Information
Mixing Ratio
100 p.b.w. Addition Cure Silicone Rubber
10 p.b.w. Addition Cure Silicone Rubber Catalyst
Brief Description of Typical Use
A part to be copied is positioned within a 'setup box' which will contain the silicone rubber whilst it cures.
The silicone rubber is thoroughly mixed with its catalyst at the correct ratio and then placed in a de-gassing chamber to remove any air trapped within the mixed silicone. If a de-gassing chamber is not available it might be possible to satisfactorily de-gas the silicone using the 'stretch pour' method (see accompanying datasheet for more info).
Once the silicone has been de-gassed it is carefully poured into a single place at the bottom of the setup box (to avoid accidental aeration) and once the setup box is full of rubber the whole box is placed in the vacuum chamber to de-gas again. The silicone will cure at room temperature in 24hrs or can be cured at an elevated temperature to hasten then cure (see accompanying datasheet).
Compatibility Information - Dos and Don'ts
Although by no means an exhaustive list, the mould materials, pigments and additives listed below have all been tested and are known to work well with AS40 Addition Cure Silicone.
Compatible Moulds
Compatible Pigments
Compatible Fillers
* Certain materials can inhibit the cure of Addition Cure silicones. Please check the list in the TDS if you are unsure of compatibility.
Key Processing Information
Ease of Use: Suitable for professional and hobby use (follow SDS advice).
Odour: AS40 is almost odourless.
Safety Precautions: Wear gloves and goggles and work in a well ventilated area. Always read the SDS before use.
Ambient Conditions: Can be used from 10 to 30°C although pot-life and cure time will be affected significantly.
Degassing: Recommended for best results. Stretch pour method best if degassing unavailable.
Mix Ratio: Mix silicone and Catalyst 100:10 by weight. Use digital scales.
Mixing: Mix thoroughly by hand for at around 2 minutes.
Pot-Life: 30 Minutes. Be sure to pour your casting(s) before this time.
Cure Time/Demould: Demould Time 24 Hours @ 25°C
Shelf Life: 12 Months
AS40 is a high quality 'addition cure' (platinum cure) silicone rubber for more demanding mould making applications.
Addition cure rtv silicone should be used in applications where very accurate dimensional reproduction of an original part is required such as in rapid prototyping, where higher temperature tolerance is required or where the maximum number of repetitive releases will be possible.
Our addition cure silicone has been chosen for its excellent dimension reproduction; it is incredibly low shrink and therefore can be used to make a mould for prototype parts that interconnect (like a nut and bolt) to engineering tolerances. It has excellent styrene and polyurethane resistance and a high tear strength.
Translucent Colour
AS40 is unpigmented and highly translucence, making it particularly suitable for use both in making moulds where being able to see the casting inside is helpful, and for making silicone components where its clear appearance mean it can be easily pigmented to any colour, including pure black or white, or vivid red and blue, which is not possible to achieve when using opaque silicones or those which use a pigmented catalyst as a visual indicator.
In common with all clear silicones, because both the silicone and the catalyst are clear, this does mean there is no visual indication as the catalyst is mixed into the silicone and so extra care should be taken to ensure they are thoroughly combined. In applications where the silicone does not need to be clear, a small amount of one of our liquid silicone pigments can be added to the AS40 catalyst before it is added to the silicone, thus providing a visual indication of when the catalyst is fully combined.
Vacuum Level for Successful Degassing
To achieve its excellent properties for tear-strength, stability and longevity, AS40 does have a higher viscosity compared to less high-specification silicones. This high viscosity does tend to mean more air entrapment during mixing and also means that only very high levels of vacuum will achieve the ‘self-collapsing’ point necessary to fully degas the silicone. Situations where AS40 does not seem to fully degas under vacuum can be resolved by fixing small leaks in vacuum fittings, or by servicing worn-out vacuum pumps.
Suggested Uses
Use our AS40 Addition Cure Rubber to produce accurate moulds of complicated parts, precisely reproducing the dimensions of the original part. Completed silicone moulds can be used for repetitive casting applications, ceramics, vacuum casting and general mould making.
Advantages
How to Buy
Easy Composites' AS40 Addition Cure Silicone Rubber is available in four different pack sizes: 0.5kg, 1kg, 5kg and 27.5kg. All packs include the correct ratio of silicone rubber and catalyst (hardener). Please choose the pack size you want from the drop-down list.
Further Information
Mixing Ratio
100 p.b.w. Addition Cure Silicone Rubber
10 p.b.w. Addition Cure Silicone Rubber Catalyst
Brief Description of Typical Use
A part to be copied is positioned within a 'setup box' which will contain the silicone rubber whilst it cures.
The silicone rubber is thoroughly mixed with its catalyst at the correct ratio and then placed in a de-gassing chamber to remove any air trapped within the mixed silicone. If a de-gassing chamber is not available it might be possible to satisfactorily de-gas the silicone using the 'stretch pour' method (see accompanying datasheet for more info).
Once the silicone has been de-gassed it is carefully poured into a single place at the bottom of the setup box (to avoid accidental aeration) and once the setup box is full of rubber the whole box is placed in the vacuum chamber to de-gas again. The silicone will cure at room temperature in 24hrs or can be cured at an elevated temperature to hasten then cure (see accompanying datasheet).
Compatibility Information - Dos and Don'ts
Although by no means an exhaustive list, the mould materials, pigments and additives listed below have all been tested and are known to work well with AS40 Addition Cure Silicone.
Compatible Moulds
Compatible Pigments
Compatible Fillers
* Certain materials can inhibit the cure of Addition Cure silicones. Please check the list in the TDS if you are unsure of compatibility.
Key Processing Information
Ease of Use: Suitable for professional and hobby use (follow SDS advice).
Odour: AS40 is almost odourless.
Safety Precautions: Wear gloves and goggles and work in a well ventilated area. Always read the SDS before use.
Ambient Conditions: Can be used from 10 to 30°C although pot-life and cure time will be affected significantly.
Degassing: Recommended for best results. Stretch pour method best if degassing unavailable.
Mix Ratio: Mix silicone and Catalyst 100:10 by weight. Use digital scales.
Mixing: Mix thoroughly by hand for at around 2 minutes.
Pot-Life: 30 Minutes. Be sure to pour your casting(s) before this time.
Cure Time/Demould: Demould Time 24 Hours @ 25°C
Shelf Life: 12 Months
Colour | Clear | |
---|---|---|
Chemistry / Material | RTV Silicone Rubber | |
Viscosity | 50000 | mPa.s |
Pot Life (Typical) | 30 | mins |
Initial Cure Time | 24 | Hrs |
Max Service Temp | 250 | °C |
---|---|---|
Hardness | 40 (Flexible) | Shore A |
Flexibility | Flexible |
Gross Weight | 0.581 | kg |
---|
For metal casting at home, most people tend to use special 'low melting point' metal alloys, rather than regular lead. The reason for this is that regular lead has a melting point of 327°C which is too high for any type of moulding silicone rubber. Special 'casting alloys' tend to be a tin/antimony/lead alloy and have a melting point around 190°C and a recommended pouring tempertaure of around 240°C which is much more suitable for casting into silicones, which tend to have maximum service temperatures of around 250°C, including both our CS25 and AS40 silicones.
In terms of a recommended silicone, both CS25 and our AS40 can be used as moulds for metal casting if you're using a casting alloy that can be cast at 250°C or less. If you were using regular tin then I'd steer clear of silicones altogether, none of them can reliably be used for the 350°C pouring tempertaures you would need for lead. Out of the two, CS25 is lower cost and easier to use but it will deteriorate faster than AS40 so it would be the best option for smaller numbers (say less than 20) but if you want to make large quantities of the castings then AS40 would be better.
Metal won't stick to silicone so you wouldn't need any sort of release agent or any other products in order to start casting pieces like small soldiers using a low-melt casting alloy.
No, we do not have any additives that will reduce the viscosity. However, often despite the apparent high viscosity, the Silicones have very good flow properties and will flow into fine details and gaps much smaller than you would expect.
Generally speaking, no, you do not need a release agent as really doesn’t stick to much at all. There are a couple of exceptions; firstly it sticks very well to itself and secondly it can stick (or at least ‘grip’) to porous materials. Porous materials and items with fragile surfaces should be sealed to prevent any sticking or damage during the moulding process. PVA, Shellac (sanding sealer) or paint/lacquer can all be used to seal the surface of porous materials. If in doubt, always test a small area first.
As long as the surface is free of dirt and contamination, then this silicone will stick to itself when you do the second pour. If the first pour of silicone has fully cured when you make the second pour then although it will bond and will become a single piece mould, the bond-line is likely to remain a weak-point.
The silicone itself can certainly be used on its own. When you buy the product you get the silicone and its catalyst together. Mix up as much (or as little) as you need and then pour them to create your cured rubber part. You can use the rubber to make a silicone mould (which you could then pour casting resin into) or to make rubber parts themselves (which would normally mean pouring the liquid rubber into a rigid mould).
Pretty much the only material silicone will stick to is other silicone, so a release agent is needed. A thin smear of Vaseline (which can be thinned using methylated spirits) or a spray wax called Macwax make effective release agents when you need to release silicone from silicone.
No, it’s probably not advisable. Polyester resin inhibits the cure of Addition Cure Silicone Rubbers. Older polyester patterns which have stabilised completely might be OK but certainly newer ones with fresh resin could stop the silicone from curing properly. For your application you would be better off with our Condensation Cure Silicone Rubber which has far fewer compatibility issues with cure inhibition.
Silicone moulds will last several pulls before wearing. Exact amount varies but 10 or more pulls can be achieved. Rubbing pure silicone oil into the mould after each use helps preserve the mould life.
AS40 has a density just over 1 (1.05-1.09 @25°C) so you will need about 0.55kg of silicone to fill a volume of 0.5 litres.
No, not using the AS40 silicone on its own, the silicone would run and pool at the bottom. However, you can add some of our Thixotropic Additive for Addition Cure Silicone Rubber to thicken it to the point where it can be brushed on a surface without running.
.....Does the silicone release toxic fumes and bad odour at this temperature in the oven?
The Addition Cure Silicone has a maximum service temperature of 250°C so should be fine at that temperature. Fully cured silicone does not give off any odour or fumes.
Moulds made from our AS40 Addition Cure silicone are suitable to be used in both degassing chambers and pressure pots.
Yes, AS40 addition cure silicone needs only the catalyst to cure and as such lack of air in a closed mould will not cause any curing issues.
Uncured spills and drips are best wiped up with a cloth. Solvents like acetone and white spirit have little effect so if there is any slight residue after cleanup then a mildly abrasive surfactant cleaner (like Cif kitchen cleaner) works well. Alternatively, cured silicone will simply peel from almost all surfaces.
The maximum service temperature of this AS40 silicone is 250°C.
Although some white metals have a melting point of 250°C, most are slightly over this (up to about 300°C) which would be too hot to reliably cast into this silicone.
If you degas the silicone while making the mould, then yes you should be able to see the edges of the cast and be able to tell if you have any air voids in your mould. Without degassing, you will still see the black resin, although it may not be clear enough to tell if there are some small air pockets.
The AS40 Addition Cure silicone will take a mould from a polyurethane pattern no problem. As long as the surface is smooth and non-porous then no release agent would be required. If the polyurethane you're using is quite low density (such as a PU foam) then it would be necessary to seal the pattern with something like a coat of epoxy resin like our XCR Epoxy Coating Resin.
Certainly do NOT use a polyester resin/primer to seal the pattern as polyester resins inhibit the cure of addition cure silicones.
Yes, the silicone accepts pigments very well and can be coloured using our range of liquid silicone pigments or using alternative pigments that are designed specifically for pigmenting RTV silicone.
As for 'stiffening' the silicone, it rather depends what you mean by this. If you mean increasing its shore hardness then no, this is not possible. If, instead you mean can the mould be reinforced then yes, this is possible but it's worth being aware that the reinforcement material (unless you use more of the same silicone) will not bond to the silicone, it will only mechanically hold it. A common example of this is creating a fibreglass shell to support a thin-wall silicone mould (a glove mould). If you're thinking of reinforcing the silicone with more silicone then this can be done and the AS40 will bodn to cured AS40 making it possible to add ripstop netting (or similar) along with more silicone onto the back of a cured mould to reinforce it.
No, this Addition cure silicone is not 'food safe' or FDA approved silicone so it should not be used for food use. We don't carry any food-safe silicone at this time.
Our Addition Cure silicone is translucent; it's not perfectly clear but it lets plenty of light through and has no colour of its own, just a slight diffraction of the light which gives it a sort of frosty appearance. Because it is colourless it can be pigmented fantastically using our range of RTV Silicone Rubber Pigments which can be added anywhere from a tiny tint to a vivid colour. For translucent effects a pin-prick of pigment can tint the silicone to a faint red, blue, white (opal) effect with great results.
For best results, yes - we recommend vacuum degassing our Addition Cure Silicone Rubber. If you don’t have a vacuum degassing system then our CS2 Condensation Cure Silicone Rubber is lower viscosity and degasses itself quite well without the need for vacuum degassing. If you do want to use this Addition Cure silicone and no vacuum chamber is available it might still be possible to de-gas the mixed silicone adequately using the ‘stretch-pour’ method whereby the silicone is poured into the mould by means of a very small hole in the bottom of a vessel containing the mixed silicone. The vessel should be positioned at a height of more than 1m above the set-up box and allowed to pour into a corner of the set-up box in a very thin trickle.
Sticks extremely well to wood, especially if you have cavities (I applied a generous amount of wax mold release before hand). Because of this, my mold tore apart when I tried to remove it from the pattern. If you know how to remove bits of silicon in wood cavities please let me know.
Unfortunately if the wood surface was unsealed before coming into contact with the silicone it would adhere to it and is difficult to remove. The best way to remove the silicone would be by using a scraper.
Although quite thick compared to the condensation cure silicone, I found it harder work but perfectly mixable. I degassed the silicone as directed and found the results great. I also needed to see the casting inside the mould to make sure there wasn't any trapped air so the clarity of the cured silicone was a great help to me personally. I would recommend this product for more complex moulds where the clarity is useful.
I was a little disappointed with this silicone rubber. With both parts being clear, it is difficult to tell when it is fully mixed - I much prefer other brands that have a coloured reactive agent so you can tell when it's mixed when it's blended into a consistent colour. It also had a lot more air bubbles than other brands I've used, which made some of the moulds I made unusable, which I've never experienced before with other brands. And my final issue was that it seemed thicker and harder to pour than the brand I normally use, which made it all round difficult to use. So all in all I don't think I'd buy this again unfortunately. A pity really as other products purchased were good and I was hoping to be able to buy everything in one place to avoid multiple orders from different shops to get everything I need.
Thanks for your feedback, we're sorry to hear of your disappointment and the issues you experienced. As you said the AS40 is thicker and can be more bubbly than other silicones, there’s a compromise with viscosity against quality and AS40 is a very good product which many customers favour due to it's technical specification. The product is designed to be translucent, however you could add a little silicone pigment to the catalyst so when you mix the two parts together you will see the colour change, we also recommend degassing this product. If you prefer a product that doesn't require degassing we also stock the CS25 Condensation Cure Silicone. This system does offers a colour change when mixed and self-de-gasses well by nature, a “stretch pour” typically works well with this product so may better match your requirements. If you would like to discuss the suitability of the CS25 for your needs please contact our technical team who will be happy to advise.
This rubber is quite high viscosity, even when at the correct temperature, so it doesn't de-gas as easily as thinner rubbers. It does have very good tear strength though, more than I expected. Tough stuff.
Hi Steven, agreed. AS40 is really quite a high viscosity silicone. This does make it more prone to air entrapment if you don't have the ability to degas it (under vacuum). However, this higher viscosity does enable the silicone to have a higher tear strength and better resilience than lower viscosity alternatives.
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We publish all reviews for verified purchases. Submit your own review and help other customers with their choices.This product is not classed as dangerous goods for transport and can be shipped to all destinations without restriction.
Shipping to EU countries is now done through our European subsidiary based in the Netherlands. All EU customers should use www.easycomposites.eu.
There are no package size restrictions or surcharges for this product.
To find the delivery cost of this item to your address, add it to your basket and then use the instant shipping calculator on the basket page.
Easy Composites Ltd, registered in England 7486797. All content copyright (C) Easy Composites Ltd, 2024. All rights reserved.