If your company uses molds to create products for your customers or to create products that can be used in-house for one reason or another, you might have an idea of just how many options you have for creating molds. What you might not know, though, is that there are also a lot of different casting materials that you can use with those molds. The casting material that you should choose will depend on the type of mold that you are using, the type of product that you are making and the things that the finished products will be used for.

These are the three main types of casting materials that you will need to choose from.

1. Flexible

Some products should be nice and flexible so that they can be used for their intended purpose. If you are making products like hoses, for example, you will need to find a flexible product to use with your mold. There are many flexible casting materials that you can choose, and some are more flexible than others. For example, for some applications, soft gels are a good option. Rubber is another type of flexible casting material, and you can choose from very flexible rubbers to thicker, more rigid rubbers.

2. Semi-Rigid

Semi-rigid casting materials are another common option. Certain types of plastics and polyurethane are considered semi-rigid, for example. If you would like an example of a product that is made from a semi-rigid material, picture a plastic water bottle. The bottle should remain in its basic shape most of the time, but if you apply enough pressure, the material does have some flexibility.

3. Rigid

Lastly, some casting materials are considered rigid. In fact, you can often choose from either rigid or rigid filled materials. Hard plastics and certain metals are often considered good rigid materials for use with molds. After all, they can be melted down so that they can be used with molds, but once these materials harden, they are very rigid and strong.

Whether you are working with large or small molds, there are casting materials that you can use to make your products. Of course, for best results, you'll need to choose the right products to work with. Fortunately, there are a host of these options to be had online, so you should be able to find the right casting materials for your needs. Contact polyurethane casting material suppliers to learn more.

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