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Today we are going to be taking a look at one of our favorite go-to materials for easy molding and quick repair, Caprolactone Thermoplastic!
This plastic, more commonly known as ShapeLock, Friendly Plastic, Instamorph or Polymorph, is a biodegradable polyester with a low melting point. When solid, it has physical properties of a very tough, nylon-like plastic, but will melt into a putty-like consistency at only 60°C. Caprolactone's specific heat and conductivity are low enough to make handling a breeze and is ideal for small-scale modelling, parts fabrication, repair of plastic objects, or rapid prototyping where heat resistance is not needed.
As Valentine's Day is fast approaching, we wanted to showcase a fun way for beginners to make a unique DIY gift. The possibilities are endless, as you're only limited by your imagination and creativity!
Items to have:
Tips before you start:
To demonstrate what you can do with caprolactone, we decided to make some decorative molded flowers that we then coated in Plasti Dip to give it some color. This is an example of how you can take a normally utilitarian repair plastic and turn it into something that expresses more creativity and charm!
Step 1:
Start by boiling some water and then carefully pouring it into a bowl. Add some thermoplastic beads to the water and stir it around with a spoon. After a couple of seconds, you should see the pebbles change from their milky white color to transparent like in the picture below. While being careful not to burn yourself, scoop the plastic out of the water, knead it into a ball, and then fit it into your mold. If the result wasn't what you were hoping for, not to worry! Simply put it back into the bowl with some newly boiled water and reform it again!
Step 2:
Carefully remove the thermoplastic from the mold, trying not to shift the shape of the plastic in the process. In our case, we wanted to try bending the flower pedals upwards so we removed it before it fully cooled. However, if you wish, you can leave it in the mold until it cools and hardens before removing it.
Step 3:
Get creative! We used some Plasti Dip paint which is rubberized and easy to peel off. You can use acrylic paint or other spray paint if you wish! There are dye powders out there, though they can be a bit pricey.
Patience is key when spraying. Work in a well-ventilated area and use scrap cardboard underneath your plastic to prevent the paint from ruining your work surface. Hold the nozzle before contacting the plastic and move it side to side. It's okay to do multiple layers to get an even coat. You may need to rotate the cardboard to get at different angles of the flower.
Step 4:
The hardest part is not rushing to add more layers. Wait for the paint to dry and add more once it does. Our Plasti Dip base coat dried quickly and to spruce it up, we added a Glossifer spray to the teal flowers and Metalic Gold flakes and Glossifer spray to the bronze ones.
Step 5:
Check for any spots you may have missed in spraying. Once you're happy with the results, remove the flowers off the cardboard and check to see if any layers of spray haven't bonded to the cardboard. Once it's all dry you are good to go!
This is our result:
PS: If you decide to DIY this project, drop us an email at media@solarbotics.com so we can feature your results!
We have been working hard on our new front end to improve your Solarbotics experience, but being the people we are we always want to know more! Tell us what you think at our new Comments page!
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Warning: This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.
Please visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov for more information. This item was manufactured prior to August 31, 2018.