Leche de látex

Latex milk is used to make thin, seamless flexible moulds from objects made of various materials – it cannot be used to make moulds from objects made of metal alloys containing copper, brass, cobalt or manganese because these metals will corrode the latex.

Before making a mould, the dry, clean and dust-free master pattern must definitely be covered with RELEASE AGENT and sealed beforehand if it is made of a porous material like clay, plaster or wood in order to prevent the latex milk from permeating the surface. For sealing work, most materials only require a concentrated soap solution (detergent) or methyl cellulose (thin WALLPAPER PASTE), both of which can be washed away later. As an alternative, porous materials can be varnished or painted.

The latex milk should be applied to the already prepared master pattern with a soft BRUSH and allowed to dry for one to three hours depending on the room temperature. The original object can alternatively be dipped into the latex milk. Because latex moulds are not cut during de-moulding but rather rolled off, a small part of the master (e.g. the base) should remain untreated. Around this opening, the edge of the latex mould should be made extra strong so as to prevent it from tearing during de-moulding.

As soon as the first coat is dry – the latex milk has coalesced and turned slightly yellow – more and more coats are added with a brush or by means of dipping. Depending on the size of the master pattern, this process must be repeated from 4 to 20 times until a thin flexible mould has formed (see also “Small Lexicon” in the chapter “Silicone”). In this process the following applies: the larger the master, the thicker the flexible mould has to be. In the case of a shape that is up to 15 cm in size, three dippings will usually suffice. In the case of one that is 30 cm, the flexible mould should be at least 1.5 to 2 mm thick. If the latex milk is to be applied with a brush, it must be cleaned with cold water after each coat.

In order to speed up the drying process of the latex milk, the coated master can be heat treated in an oven heated to about 50 °C after each coat as long as the master is made of a material that can withstand the heat.

In the case of larger moulds, a support casing (“mother mould”) must be made before the latex has been removed from the master pattern. How this works is described in general terms in the chapter “Silicone” (see under “Small Lexicon”: glove technique/flexible mould) If objects with significant undercuts are to be moulded with latex milk, the rigid support casing, if required, must consist of many parts (at least two) because otherwise it will be impossible to remove it from the master pattern (which itself is covered with latex). Note: latex moulds cannot, like silicone moulds, have more material added to the mould in areas where the undercuts are significant enough to cause problems later. Because making multi-piece support casings is a pretty involved undertaking, we recommend that when making moulds of complicated master patterns you use silicone.

De-moulding is accomplished by rubbing soap and water to the outer surface of the dried latex mould and carefully rolling it off. It should then be washed out with water and only used for casting after being allowed to completely harden for three days.

Latex moulds are designed primarily for casting with less aggressive media like plaster, wax and plaster-based casting materials. Of course PUR and polyester casting materials as well as epoxy resins can be poured into latex moulds but these will negatively affect the life expectancy of the mould because they will tend to corrode the natural material latex and lead to its becoming too brittle. When making a reproduction, the finished product should be stored in the support casing or, in the case of smaller moulds, hung by the reinforced edge.

In the latter process, for example, a hole in the shape of the filler opening of the mould should be cut into a thick CARDBOARD, the mould then pulled through it and affixed at the circumference of the opening to the top side of the cardboard with ADHESIVE TAPE or a PIN. After the casting material that had been poured into the mould has cured, the mould must be rubbed with soap and water in order to roll it off.