Dragon Skin™ 20 NV

Instructions

PREPARATION...

Safety - Use in a properly ventilated area (“room size” ventilation). Wear safety glasses, long sleeves and rubber gloves to minimize contamination risk. Wear vinyl gloves only. Latex gloves will inhibit the cure of the rubber.

Store and use material at room temperature (73°F/23°C). Warmer temperatures will drastically reduce working time and cure time. Storing material at warmer temperatures will also reduce the usable shelf life of unused material. These products have a limited shelf life and should be used as soon as possible.

Cure Inhibition - Addition cured silicone rubber may be inhibited by certain contaminants in or on the pattern to be molded resulting in tackiness at the pattern interface or a total lack of cure throughout the mold. Latex, sulfur clays, certain wood surfaces, newly cast polyester, epoxy, tin cure silicone rubber or urethane rubber my cause inhibition. If compatibility between the rubber and the surface is a concern, a small-scale test is recommended. Apply a small amount of rubber onto a non-critical area of the pattern. Inhibition has occurred if the rubber is gummy or uncured after the recommended cure time has passed. To prevent inhibition, one or more coatings of a clear acrylic lacquer applied to the model surface is usually effective. Allow any sealer to thoroughly dry before applying rubber.

Even with a sealer, Dragon Skin™ 20 NV will not cure against surfaces containing sulfur. If you are not sure if your clay contains sulfur, do a small compatibility test before using for an important project.

Applying A Release Agent - Although not usually necessary, a release agent will make demolding easier when casting into most surfaces. Ease Release™ 200 is a proven release agent for releasing silicone from silicone or other surfaces. Mann Ease Release™ products are available from Smooth-On or your Smooth-On distributor. 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.

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MEASURING & MIXING...

Before you begin, pre-mix Part A and Part B separately. After dispensing required amounts of Parts A and B into mixing container (1A:1B by volume or weight), mix thoroughly making sure that you scrape the sides and bottom of the mixing container several times.

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POURING, CURING & PERFORMANCE...

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

If Using As A Mold - When first cast, silicone rubber molds exhibit natural release characteristics. Depending on what is being cast into the mold, mold lubricity may be depleted over time and parts will begin to stick. No release agent is necessary when casting wax or gypsum. Applying a release agent such as Ease Release™ 200 (available from Smooth-On) prior to casting polyurethane, polyester and epoxy resins is recommended to prevent mold degradation.

Thickening Dragon Skin™ 20 NV - THI-VEX™ is made especially for thickening Smooth-On’s silicones for vertical surface application (making brush-on molds). Different viscosities can be attained by varying the amount of THI-VEX™. See the THI‑VEX™ technical bulletin (available from Smooth-On or your Smooth-On distributor) for full details.

Curing - Allow mold rubber to cure for 30 minutes at room temperature (73°F/23°C) before demolding. Heat Curing - Time to demold can be reduced with mild heat. Example: After pouring Dragon Skin™ 20 NV at room temperature, place the mold in a hot box or industrial oven at 140°F (60°C). This may reduce the demold time substantially. Note - time will vary depending on mold thickness.

Mold Performance & Storage - The physical life of the mold depends on how you use it (materials cast, frequency, etc.). Casting abrasive materials such as concrete can quickly erode mold detail, while casting non-abrasive materials (wax) will not affect mold detail. Before storing, the mold should be cleaned with a soap solution and wiped fully dry. Two part (or more) molds should be assembled. Molds should be stored on a level surface in a cool, dry environment

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Related Categories: Silicone Rubber - Platinum Cure, Skin Safe FX Materials

Related Series: Dragon Skin™ Series – High Performance Silicone Rubber