Alginate is a versatile material that lends itself well for multiple uses. Find out more about the crucial considerations to keep in mind when using it for making body molds from the live human body.

Alginate is a humble material that is derived from the regular brown seaweed that seems to grow with gay abandon. It is surprising to note that the derivatives have a thriving market with multiple uses across industries.

The use of alginates in the medical arena cannot be overlooked. Popular as a dental impressions material, this hypoallergenic compound also lends itself well for curing wounds, infections and other ailments. Additionally, it finds various applications in the pharmaceutical, industrial, technical, leisure and food industries too.

And the arts and crafts arena cannot be left behind either. Alginate being skin safe, it is prominently used to make body molds of live humans and animals for life casting, special effects and the like. The same concept can be used for taxidermy as well.

While it is easy to use alginate for capturing molds from the body, the procedure calls for a lot of care and attention. To begin with the set time has to be slower than regular dental impression materials to allow the artist enough time to work on the mold. This is why top art suppliers offer the material in varying formulations like slow set, regular set and fast set.

Artists should choose according to the application to ensure that they have a long enough working time to complete the job. In case the regular offerings do not seem to suffice, a retarder solution is also available that will further slow down the setting window, thus easing the work. The few extra minutes can play a crucial role in many projects!

A traditional formula will suit most purposes. However, when extra tear strength is required for a particular task, it is better to opt for the fiber-infused formulae. As these ones can hold moisture better, it will delay the shrinkage as well. FiberGel alginate is considered a good option.

Then again, particular care is required when working with babies. The soft and sensitive skin calls for a gentle formula – silica free ones are best – that will not trouble them in any manner.

It may come as a surprise that the type of water used to make the alginate mixture can also make a huge difference here. The alginate powder has to be mixed with water in the prescribed ratio to form a smooth and creamy texture. However, using hard water can result in a lumpy mess that is mostly unusable.

Then again, the right consistency is equally important. If it is too thin and runny, there is a high chance of getting air bubbles. Even too thick alginate mix is likely to have air bubbles.

EnvironMolds (https://www.artmolds.com/) is the best resource for a variety of top-quality alginate products with varying set times along with options like FiberGel E F/X Grade alginate.