Ice sticking to the mould problem.

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Ice is sticking to alginate molds used in an art project, causing issues with detail retention. A suggestion was made to use PAM or a cooking spray to prevent water absorption and facilitate mold release. Attempts with cooking oil were unsuccessful, as it floated on top of the water. Alternatives like Teflon, Scotch-Gard, WD-40, and silicone spray lubricant were proposed as potential solutions. Finding a suitable release agent is crucial for achieving the desired clarity and detail in the molds.
ciarandunlevy
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Hi, having a problem with the ice sticking to the mould. I have to use alginate for the mould and when the water freezes, so does the alginate.The moulds are part of my art project and they take amazing detail. I don't know whether I'm making sense here but is it possible to use something in between them?
 
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Alginate is capable of absorbing water and probably does so until the water freezes. You might want to try coating the inside of the mold with a light coating of PAM or some other cooking spray to see if that will block the absorption of water, so the mold will release after freezing.
 
Cool thanks a million for your time, I will try that one tonight.
 
Still having problems

Well I tried cooking oil, couldn't get a spray and the oil just rose to the top of the water. Is there anything else that might work. I was even thinking is there anything other than water that would create a clear mould?
 
Would Teflon or "Scotch-Gard" work?
 
Try WD-40. I'm not sure that it will work, but it is, after all, a Water Displacement formulation.
 
How about silicon spray lubricant?
 
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