Shin-Etsu Silicones of America Inc. has developed SES22251 series moldmaking silicone for rapid prototyping in the medical, transportation, and consumer products industries. The silicone exhibits excellent tear resistance including undercuts, low shrinkage, low viscosity, and easy release, the company reports. It can be mixed with four flexible Shore-A hardness catalyst options (CAT22251-40/35/30/20) to achieve the desired hardness.
The product’s properties allow designers to make parts from a silicone master mold quickly and easily for rapid prototyping of parts and new product development revisions while helping to decrease overall time and cost and increase pulls per mold, according to the manufacturer.