START BY PREPARING YOUR MODEL...
Preparation - Store and use at room temperature (73°F/23°C). These products have a limited shelf life and should be used as soon as possible. Use in a low humidity environment (below 50% RH). Mixing containers should have straight sides and a flat bottom. Mixing sticks should be flat and stiff with defined edges for scraping the sides and bottom of your mixing container. Good ventilation (room size) is essential. Wear safety glasses, long sleeves and rubber gloves to minimize contamination risk.
Some Materials Must Be Sealed - Models with porous surfaces (gypsum plasters, concrete, wood, stone, etc.) must be sealed prior to applying a release agent. Sonite™ Wax (available from SmoothOn distributors) is a proven sealer for porous surfaces.
IMPORTANT - Ecoflex Gel does not cure against Compat™ 45. We do not recommend making a gel filled makeup prosthetic appliance in Compat™ 45, as cap plastic material will adhere to Compat™ 45
Non-Porous Surfaces - Metal, glass, hard plastics, sulfur free clays, etc. require only a release agent.
Applying a Release Agent - Use a release agent made specifically for mold making.
IMPORTANT: If casting platinum silicone into Compat™ 45, only use Ease Release 200 when making your mold, DO NOT use Universal Mold Release.
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 or plastic. Materials should be stored and used in a warm environment (73°F/23°C).
IMPORTANT: Pre Mix the Part B before using. After dispensing equal amounts of Parts A and B by volume into mixing container, mix thoroughly for at least 3 minutes making sure that you scrape the sides and bottom of the mixing container several times.
After mixing parts A and B, vacuum degassing is recommended to eliminate any entrapped air in Compat™ 45. Vacuum material for 2-3 minutes (29 inches of mercury), making sure that you leave enough room in container for product expansion.
If Mixing Large Quantities (16 lbs./7 kgs. or more) at one time, use a mechanical mixer (i.e. Squirrel Mixer or equal) for 3 minutes followed by careful hand mixing for one minute as directed above. Then, pour entire quantity into a new, clean mixing container and do it all over again.
POURING, CURING & PERFORMANCE... 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 a minimum of 24 hours at room temperature (73°F/23°C) before using. Cure time can be reduced with mild heat. Do not cure rubber where temperature is less than 65°F/18°C.
Thickening Compat™ 45 for Brush On Applications - To thicken Compat™ 45 for brush on applications, only use URE-FIL™ 11 filler. Recommended starting proportion: Mix 1 part URE-FIL™ 11 with 1A:1B of Compat™ 45. Add more in small amounts if necessary. DO NOT USE URE-FIL™ 9 (CAB-O-SIL) WITH COMPAT™ 45.
IMPORTANT - Do not add Kick-iT!™ cure accelerator to Compat™ 45, this will cause cured urethane to inhibit silicone.
Post Curing - Optional . . . Following a 24 hour cure, 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 Agent (available from Smooth-On distributors) is recommended for releasing abrasive materials like concrete.
Performance & Storage - Fully cured rubber is tough, durable and will perform if properly used and stored. Molds should be stored on a level surface at room temperature in a dry environment. Do not stack molds, expose them to moisture or UV light for prolonged periods.
IMPORTANT: Shelf life of product is reduced after opening. Remaining product should be used as soon as possible. Immediately replacing the lids on both containers after dispensing product will help 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.