Wacker Elastosil® Vario 40 Fast – Transparent Platinum Silicone for Moulds & Prototyping

Premium Transparent Platinum Silicone for Professional Mould Making and Prototyping

Wacker ELASTOSIL® VARIO 40 Fast is a two-component, addition-cure (platinum-cure) casting silicone with a Shore A hardness of 40. It is fully transparent and was specially developed for moulds where short turnaround times and visibility of the embedded object are essential. The Fast version offers a pot life of just 2 minutes and a demoulding time of 15 minutes at 23 °C – ideal for production environments where speed is the priority. This professional silicone combines excellent flow (10,000 mPa·s), high tensile strength (8 N/mm²), food safety and broad chemical resistance with the unique flexibility of the VARIO system. Mix ratio 10:1 (A:B).

Key Benefits

• Ultra-fast cure (Fast): 2-minute pot life, demouldable after 15 minutes at 23 °C – maximum production efficiency for series production
• Fully transparent: The embedded object stays visible in the mould, so you can cut the mould open precisely in the right place – ideal for prototyping and complex geometries
• Adjustable hardness with the VARIO system: Blend the VARIO 15 and VARIO 40 Part A components to achieve any Shore A hardness between 15 and 40
• Adjustable cure speed: Combine the Fast and Normal Part B components for any curing time you need – total Part B is always 10% of the Part A weight
• Food safe: Platinum-cure technology with no by-products, compliant with BfR XV and FDA 21 CFR 177.2600, suitable for culinary moulds
• High mechanical strength: 8 N/mm² tensile strength and 15 N/mm tear strength for robust, long-lasting moulds

Typical Applications

• Series production of moulds where short cycle times are required
• Prototyping and rapid tooling: transparent moulds for precise cutting-out of complex models
• Culinary moulds for chocolate, sugarcraft and other food-safe applications (FDA compliant)
• Stamps and pad printing: high detail reproduction and chemical resistance
• Podiatry and medical simulation: moulds and anatomical models
• Robotics, animatronics and textiles: flexible silicone objects

Processing instructions:

1. Mix Part A and Part B in a 10:1 ratio by weight
2. Stir slowly in a figure-of-eight motion to minimise air entrapment
3. Pour immediately – the pot life is only 2 minutes; vacuum degassing is not recommended for the Fast version
4. Demould after 15 minutes at 23 °C
5. Recommended: post-cure at 140 °C for 2 hours for complete outgassing

Customisation options: use the mixing calculator below this description to work out how much Vario 15, Vario 40, Catalyst VARIO and VARIO F you need for your target hardness (Shore A 15–40) and working time (2–150 minutes).

Wacker Chemie is a global leader in silicone technology for professional mould making, food-safe applications and industrial processes, with more than 100 years of expertise in platinum-cure silicones.

Important Warning: Inhibition of Addition-Cure Silicones

Please note: This is an addition-cure (platinum-cure) silicone. These silicones can be poisoned by sulphur, nitrogen, amine compounds and metal salts. If you are not sure whether the products you are using (including gloves, spatulas and cups) contain these substances, please carry out a small test first. They are found in, among other things, many latex gloves, some plasticines, paints and adhesives, condensation-cure silicones, one-component silicone sealants, natural rubbers and 3D printing materials (especially stereolithography). If you still want to use such materials, you will need to apply a protective layer of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA).

Professional Support

Our technical specialists can advise you on hardness blending, cure speed, processing techniques and achieving optimum results for your specific mould, prototype or stamp application. Contact us for technical data sheets, processing guides or advice on the VARIO system.