Latex Liquid Rubber is a pre-vulcanised emulsion that air dries on the surface of a master to form a highly flexible, thin rubber skin. It can be coloured with latex colourant.
What it is used for
Latex is extremely versatile, and is widely used in fields as diverse as making moulds for garden ornaments and producing theatrical masks.
It is easy to use and relatively strong, and gives good definition and accuracy of reproduction.
Important: up to 10% shrinkage may occur with latex products.
Choosing a master
To make a latex mould you first need a suitable master, either acquired or made, and the choice of master is quite important.
- Virtually any material can be used as a master, but porous materials such as plaster of Paris or clay are the most suitable. The porosity of the material draws the moisture out of the latex, which makes it thicken.
- Non-porous masters need the Paint On method.
- Some metals react with latex, resulting in weak moulds.
- Plastic-type materials can be used, but may reduce the life of the mould.
Two methods
Two mould making techniques are used: the Dipping method and the Paint On method.
Supporting a large mould
If your mould is large and liable to distort, it will need a support case or jacket. This is usually made of either plaster bandage or glassfibre. No release agent is needed when using either of these materials with latex.
What you need
- Latex Liquid Rubber
- Latex colourant, if you want to colour it
- A master
- Plaster bandage or glassfibre for a support jacket, for large moulds
More materials for moulds are in casting and moulding.