Does anyone have any experience with casting metal in silicone molds?

I think there are some poured casting "metals" that are like resins. ie chemical set rather than a cooling molten metal.

What would happen if you injected hot plastic into a mould made from epoxy resin which had a high percentage of aluminium filings to dissipate the heat? If this mould was thin (low thermal mass) and bolted to steel sheets (heatsinks) with a layer of thermal compound, you might be able to get the heat out without damaging the mould. Obviously this would be for a low pressure system, like the hand pumped one?


Max

I have seen low temperature metal poured into silicon molds but the metal was usually something lead or pewter based. Not exactly the type of metal you would want to use for puzzle parts.

Another option would be to make parts using the lost wax method which I have done in the past (no, not for making puzzle parts) but that is probably a bit on the cost prohibitive side for most people to do casually.

how about the z corp stuff plaster ceramic composite, supposed to be appropriate for metal casting?
http://www.zcorp.com under applications then metal casting.

I know lead is soft. I gather that pewter is harder?

Tin is even harder, not much higher melting point than pewter either.

Max