Cold weather will not permanently harm urethane, silicone or epoxy materials. It can cause these materials to thicken and separate. If you try to use the material while it is too cold, it will not cure.
If you suspect your materials are cold, allow them to reach room temperature (at least 73°F / 23°C) in the containers before opening. Depending on how long the materials were exposed to the cold, it can take several days to bring them up to 73°F (23°C). Pro Tip: During cold winter months, bear in mind how long material may have been sitting in an unheated delivery truck.
Once the material has reached room temperature…
- Urethane Rubber – Open Part A & B containers and mix thoroughly (3 minutes) with a clean flat edge stirring paddle (different sticks for each Part to prevent cross contamination) before dispensing into a mixing container.
- Silicone Rubber – Open Part A and mix thoroughly (3 minutes) with a clean flat edge stirring paddle before dispensing into a mixing container. For 100A:10B by weight systems (e.g. Mold Max™, Smooth-Sil™ series) vigorously shake the Part B container. For 1A:1B by volume systems (e.g. OOMOO™, Mold Star™, Dragon Skin™ series), open Part B and mix thoroughly (3 minutes) with a clean flat edge stirring paddle before dispensing.
- Epoxy – follow the standard pre-mix instructions located on the product's technical bulletin.
- Urethane Resin – Vigorously shake both Part A & B containers before dispensing. Urethane systems with fillers (e.g. Smooth-Cast™ 385, TASK™ 18, Feather Lite™) may need to be opened and thoroughly mixed (3 minutes) with a clean flat edge stirring paddle (different sticks for each Part to prevent cross contamination) before dispensing into a mixing container.
Note for Simpact 60A and 85A: These materials may congeal if exposed to cold temperatures. To reconstitute, Part A & B must be heated to 90°F (33°C) then thoroughly mixed to an even consistency.
Latex Based Products
Forton™ and duoMatrix™ acrylic latex polymer systems cannot be allowed to freeze. If they freeze, they are permanently unusable.
Maker Pro Paint™
Maker Pro Paint™ and Maker Pro Paint™ Adhesion Promoter cannot be allowed to freeze. If they freeze, they are permanently unusable.
Keep it off the Concrete Floor
Store products off of cold concrete floors. Even in a heated shop, concrete will cool 5-gallon pails or even gallon buckets left in cardboard boxes to a point the material may cure slowly or not work at all. Store containers off the concrete floor on a pallet, foam board, etc.
Disclaimer
This FAQ article is offered as a guideline and offers possible solutions to problems encountered during mold making and casting. No warranty is implied and it is up to the end user to determine suitability for any specific application. Always refer to the provided Technical Bulletins (TB) & Safety Data Sheets (SDS) before using any material. A small scale test is suggested to determine suitability of any recommendation before trying on a larger scale for any application.
I'm an experienced enthusiast in materials and manufacturing processes, particularly in the realm of urethane, silicone, and epoxy materials used in mold making and casting. Over the years, I've gained extensive hands-on expertise, delving into the intricacies of these materials and their behavior under various conditions.
Now, let's dissect the information provided in the article about handling cold weather and its impact on specific materials used in mold making and casting:
-
Cold Weather Impact:
- Cold weather won't permanently harm urethane, silicone, or epoxy materials.
- It can cause these materials to thicken and separate.
- If used while too cold, the material won't cure.
-
Bringing Materials to Room Temperature:
- If materials are suspected to be cold, allow them to reach room temperature (at least 73°F / 23°C) before use.
- Depending on exposure to cold, it may take several days to bring them up to the desired temperature.
-
Winter Considerations:
- During cold winter months, be mindful of how long materials may have been sitting in an unheated delivery truck.
-
Handling Urethane Rubber:
- Open Part A & B containers, mix thoroughly (3 minutes) with a clean flat edge stirring paddle before dispensing into a mixing container.
-
Silicone Rubber Instructions:
- Open Part A, mix thoroughly (3 minutes) with a clean stirring paddle before dispensing into a mixing container.
- Specific instructions for different weight and volume systems.
-
Epoxy Handling:
- Follow standard pre-mix instructions located on the product's technical bulletin.
-
Urethane Resin Procedures:
- Vigorously shake both Part A & B containers before dispensing.
- Special considerations for urethane systems with fillers.
-
Note for Simpact 60A and 85A:
- These materials may congeal if exposed to cold temperatures.
- To reconstitute, Part A & B must be heated to 90°F (33°C) and thoroughly mixed.
-
Latex Based Products:
- Forton™ and duoMatrix™ acrylic latex polymer systems cannot be allowed to freeze; if they freeze, they are permanently unusable.
-
Maker Pro Paint™:
- Cannot be allowed to freeze; if it freezes, it becomes permanently unusable.
-
Storage Considerations:
- Store products off cold concrete floors to prevent slow curing or ineffectiveness.
-
Disclaimer:
- The article serves as a guideline with no implied warranty.
- End users must determine suitability for specific applications.
- Always refer to provided Technical Bulletins (TB) & Safety Data Sheets (SDS) before using any material.
- Small-scale tests are recommended before large-scale applications.
This comprehensive guide emphasizes the importance of temperature control and proper handling to ensure the effective use of these materials in mold making and casting applications.
