Volatile Free

New to the VFI molding and casting line is our SHARPCAST Platinum Cure Silicone, VFI-1540.

As a silicone, this material is extremely versatile in terms of projects it can be used for.

Whether you’re making a mold or a part, it offers excellent resistance to tearing and low shrinkage to maintain tight tolerances.

Another perk is that it has easy release characteristics, which means you don’t need to use a release agent before casting.

This material is compatible with many tooling and molding surfaces, including 3D printing materials, like PLA, so you can make molds or parts out of 3D-printed objects.

Alternatively, you can use urethane or metal tooling to make silicone molds and parts.

If you’d like to learn more about the new silicone, visit the product page below or call (800) 307-9218.

https://volatilefree.com/product/sharpcast-vfi-1540-40-a-platinum-cure-silicone/

A majority of architectural and producers typically only cast solid , which can be heavy and costly depending on several factors, such as the depth of the mold you’re making.

A great solution to avoid pouring a full rubber system is by using some with expanding .

This method yields strong, durable concrete that can often be a more cost-effective option.

VFI offers our 2100 series of 25-60 A rubbers for the base of the mold. They will provide the highest detail, the most flexibility, and the best demolding characteristics.

Once this part of the mold is poured, it is then back with a rigid or semi-flexible foam from our 5100 or 5200 series. These are extremely fast-curing and will often require a proportioner for the best results.

The combination of these two materials makes strong, cost-effective, and reusable molds that are easier to handle due to the decreased weight of the foam.

Contact VFI at (800) 307-9218 if you’d like to learn more about these products and how to implement these systems into your production process.

are meant to be durable protection against weather conditions, impacts, and other daily wear and tear, so you might be surprised if they start to crack.

Cracking typically should not occur, but if it does, you’re probably wondering what caused it.

This type of defect is a stress-related failure, which stems from:

1. Substrate movement or lack of flexibility
2. Environmental factors like extreme temperatures
3. Improper application, which causes adhesion issues or failures

If you’d like to learn more about preventing cracks from occurring, check out VFI’s tech piece.

It covers proper application instructions to follow and provides alternative materials for various substrates.

https://volatilefree.com/why-is-my-hard-coat-cracking/

In many cases, VFI deals with applicators who require hard coatings to protect surfaces such as EPS, wood, metal, concrete, and more.

However, there are some unique projects where applicators need to create a durable, yet flexible shield on flexible surfaces.

We have specialty coatings that work incredibly well for these purposes to protect projects involving spray-on cushioning for furniture, amusement ride pads, artificial tree bark and rocks, or flexible panels.

A big reason people look for these coatings is that they need a material that will bend and flex with the substrate without cracking.

If your project is subject to impact and thermocycling, many harder coatings won’t hold up, which is why these and are so desirable.

Visit the VFI website and check out our blog on our specialty products, such as VFI-270 and VFI-6031, for your project needs.

https://volatilefree.com/vfi-coatings-to-protect-flexible-surfaces/