Can Ethyl Acetate be Used to Remove PLA from Plaster of Paris Molds?

[inspacewithcallisto]

TL;DR Summary

I need something that will dissolve PLA but won't affect plaster of paris.

I'm trying to make a mold because I want to add something to some jewelry. I 3D printed the symbol that I wanted, and tried to make a mold with Plaster of Paris. But I can't take the print out of the plaster, and I don't want to damage it with a knife. I'm thinking ethyl acetate? A quick google search says it melts PLA, but I don't know what it does to plaster. Anyone have any ideas?

 

[berkeman]

Welcome to PF.

Could you try it again and use a mold release compound to make it easier to take apart?

 

[inspacewithcallisto]

Welcome to PF.

Could you try it again and use a mold release compound to make it easier to take apart?

i don't think i have access to that :(

 

[berkeman]

i don't think i have access to that :(

Why not? There are lots of mold release agents/compounds, including some that you can make for yourself. And Amazon has plenty of choices...

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=mold+rel...ture-scomp&tag=amz-mkt-fox-us-20&ref=aa_scomp

 

[Borek]

tried to make a mold with Plaster of Paris

No idea what you plan to do, just in case: plaster of Paris won't survive high temperatures.

 

[berkeman]

Summary: I need something that will dissolve PLA but won't affect plaster of paris.

I'm trying to make a mold because I want to add something to some jewelry. I 3D printed the symbol that I wanted, and tried to make a mold with Plaster of Paris.

Hey wait a minute... Can you just 3D print the negative halves of the item you want to mold? In essence, 3D print the 2 halves of the mold and use it (with mold release compound!) to mold whatever your symbol/thing is.

https://3d.formlabs.com/moldmaking-...XPwhF9gGK1-cQcgnhePLgeABHGjJkFowaAh3IEALw_wcB

 

[rbelli1]

You can also print in PVA and use water to dissolve it.

BoB

 

[chemisttree]

PLA is soluble in dioxane, acetonitrile, chloroform, methylene chloride, 1,1,2-trichloroethane and dichloroacetic acid.

Plaster of paris is not soluble in any of these with the exception of dichloroacetic acid. I would use methylene chloride.

 

[hutchphd]

I'm behing the curve here. What material is your final piece?

 

[chemisttree]

It would either be gold or silver?