Pot Life
Pot life refers to the amount of time between when the silicone is mixed and when it becomes too thick and viscous from the curing process to be poured. Some pot lives are linear (the silicone thickens and cures evenly) such as Ecoflex 00-20 and 00-30, while other pot lives are exponential in progression (the silicone seems to cure in thick chunks) such as Ecoflex 00-50. Additionally, many variables can alter pot life. Pot life can be influenced by the temperature of both the silicone and the pour environment. A cooler environment lends to a prolonged pot life, while a warmer environment lends to a shortened pot life. Additionally, per Smooth-On, it is not recommended to pour at temperatures below 65F/18C. Smooth-On's SLO-JO is a silicone additive that can be used to increase pot life without affecting the ultimate physical properties of the silicone. Please refer to Smooth-On's website for detailed instructions for use.
Amavidi: A Begineer's Guide To Cure Time
You may be wondering why you see certain types of pours more often in certain firmnesses. The short answer is: pot life. It is important to plan a pour based on the pot life of your silicone and adapt when conditions aren't optimal (ex: when it's warmer in your pour environment than desired). For example, when it's hot and you don't have SLO-JO on hand, it might not be a good idea to pour a super complex 6 color pour in Ecoflex 00-50. However, this might be a good time to pour some crisp marbles in Ecoflex 00-30! Work with your silicone and not against it for best results.
The following chart compares pot lives of commonly used silicones are based on Smooth-On, a typical pour environment of 73F/23C, winter, and summer:
| Silicone | Pot life per Smooth-On (minutes) | Pot life in 73F - real world (minutes) | Pot life in winter - real world (minutes) | Pot life in summer - real world (minutes) | Linear or Exponential Cure Behavior |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ecoflex 00-20 | 30 | 25 | 28-35 | 18-20 | Linear |
| Ecoflex 00-20 FAST | 20 | ||||
| Ecoflex 00-30 | 45 | 35-38 | 45-50 | 25-30 | Linear |
| Ecoflex 00-50 | 18 | 15 | 16-20 | 8-12 | Exponential |
| Dragon Skin 10A (Medium) | 20 | ||||
| Dragon Skin 10A (Slow) | 45 | 30 | 35-40 | 20-25 | Linear |
| Near Clear 00-31 | 40 | 35-38 | 45-50 | 25-30 | Exponential |
| Near Clear 00-45 | 45 |
Ecoflex 00-20 - 30 minutes
Ecoflex 00-20 (fast) - 20 minutes
Ecoflex 00-30 - 45 minutes
Ecoflex 00-50 - 18 minutes
Dragon Skin 10A (medium) - 20 minutes
Dragon Skin 10A (slow) - 45 minutes
Near Clear 00-31 - 40 minutes
Near Clear 00-45 - 45 minutes
Future Topics:
Not shite definition (done)
What impacts pot life / how to alter it (done)
Planning a pour based on pot life (done)
Might add pics??
Links for Later (TM)
How to Degas Silicone Smooth-On tutorial: https://www.smooth-on.com/tutorials/vacuum-degas-silicone-mold-max-30/
Ecoflex 00-20: https://www.smooth-on.com/products/ecoflex-00-20/
Ecoflex 00-20 FAST: https://www.smooth-on.com/products/ecoflex-00-20-fast/
Ecoflex 00-30: https://www.smooth-on.com/products/ecoflex-00-30/
Ecoflex 00-50: https://www.smooth-on.com/products/ecoflex-00-50/
Dragon Skin 10A Medium: https://www.smooth-on.com/products/dragon-skin-10-medium/
Dragon Skin 10A Slow: https://www.smooth-on.com/products/dragon-skin-10-slow/
Near Clear 00-31: https://www.smooth-on.com/products/ecoflex-00-31-clear/
Near Clear 00-45: https://www.smooth-on.com/products/ecoflex-00-45-clear/
SLO-JO: https://www.smooth-on.com/products/slo-jo/
-Linda @ PPS