Premium Translucent Silicone for Professional Molds
Wacker Elastosil Vario 15 Normal is a two-component, platinum-cure (addition-crosslinking) casting silicone with translucent, colorless properties and a Shore A 15 softness rating. This high-performance silicone combines very low viscosity (5,000 mPa·s) with minimal shrinkage and excellent mechanical properties, specifically developed for dimensionally accurate copies and reproduction molds. The Normal version (Hardener VARIO) offers a processing time of 150 minutes, ideal for larger projects. Food-safe according to BfR and FDA guidelines.
Key Benefits
-
Translucent and colorless: Molded objects remain visible for accurate positioning and precision cutting of reproduction molds
-
Very low viscosity: 3,000 mPa·s after mixing for excellent flow around components and self-venting properties
-
Flexible processing time: 150 minutes pot life with Hardener VARIO (Normal) or 2 minutes with Hardener VARIO F (Fast)
-
Shore A 15 softness: Very flexible and soft for easy demolding and delicate details
-
Excellent mechanical properties: 6.5 N/mm² tensile strength, 900% elongation, tear strength 15 N/mm (ASTM D 624 B)
-
Shrink-free vulcanisation: No chemical shrinkage for dimensionally accurate reproduction
-
Modular system: Can be mixed with Elastosil Vario 40 for any desired hardness between 15-40 Shore A
-
Food safe & BfR/FDA compliant: Suitable for food contact and culinary applications
Typical Applications
- Prototype manufacturing and rapid prototyping for dimensionally accurate copies
- Reproduction molds for cast resin, concrete, plaster and all common reproduction materials
- Food-safe molds for chocolate, sugar, fondant, and culinary creations
- SFX and prosthetics: molds for masks, facial applications and special effects
- Podiatry and medical simulation for anatomical models and training phantoms
- Molds for polyurethane, epoxy, polyester and acrylic resins (Jesmonite, A1)
Technical Features
Elastosil Vario 15 Normal is supplied as a two-component system with a mixing ratio of 10:1 (base:hardener by weight). The Normal B component (Hardener VARIO) has a pot life of 150 minutes at 23°C and is demoldable after 6 hours at room temperature. For faster projects, Hardener VARIO F can be used (2-minute pot life, 15 minutes demoldable) or a mix of both hardeners for intermediate curing times. Hardness can be adjusted by mixing Vario 15 (Shore A 15) and Vario 40 (Shore A 40) base components—for example, a 50/50 mix gives approximately Shore A 27.5. Full vulcanization: 24 hours at 23°C. Curing can be accelerated by heating. Density: 1.06 g/cm³. Coloring can be done with 1-4% Elastosil Color Paste FL. Note: The total hardening component must always be 10% of the base component by weight.
Wacker Chemie is a global leader in silicone technologies for professional mold making, prototyping, and industrial applications, with over 100 years of expertise.
Important Warning: Inhibition with Addition-Cure Silicones
Note: This is an addition silicone (addition cross-linking/platinum cure). These silicones can be poisoned by sulfur, nitrogen, amino compounds, and metal salts. If you are unsure whether the products you use (including gloves, spatulas, and cups) contain these ingredients, perform a small test first. These substances are found in many latex gloves, some plastilines, paints and adhesives, condensation silicones, one-component silicone sealants, natural rubbers, and 3D printing materials (especially stereolithography). If you do want to use it, you will need to apply a protective layer of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA).
⚠️ What the compliance statements do and do not say
Wacker states compliance for this product for food contact: EC 1935/2004, BfR XV Silicones (volatiles max 0.5 %, extractables max 0.5 %) and FDA 21 CFR 175.300 and 177.2600. Wacker further declares that phthalates, bisphenols, PVC, PFAS, SCCP, heavy metals, latex and fragrances, among others, are not intentionally introduced, that the product is not of animal or human origin, is not derived from GMOs and does not undergo irradiation, and that the substances listed in the toy standards EN 71-3 and EN 71-9 and in CPSIA are not intentionally introduced.
This is not a statement about skin contact or biocompatibility. We do not use the term skin-friendly as a certification, because no such certification exists at raw material level. Wacker itself notes that regulatory sanctioning of the ingredients does not imply the finished product is considered safe, and that responsibility for the finished article and for migration, extraction and volatile testing rests with its manufacturer.
Note for body-contact applications: the WACKER SILICONES HEALTH CARE POLICY generally does not permit use in contact with the genital mucosa, generally excludes applications of more than 30 days, and assesses contraceptive and reproductive devices case by case. If you are working on such a product, contact us before ordering.
Professional Support
Our technical specialists advise on material selection, processing techniques, hardener selection, hardness adjustments, and optimal results for your specific reproduction molding application. Contact us for technical data sheets, processing guidelines, or advice on inhibition prevention with addition silicones.