Pot Life

What is Pot Life?

The working time window between mixing Part A and Part B of silicone and the point at which the material begins to gel and can no longer be poured.

What Is the Pot Life Clock?

Pot life is the maker's race against chemistry. The moment Part A (silicone base) and Part B (platinum catalyst) of platinum-cure silicone are combined, the curing reaction begins. Pot life measures the usable working window — the period during which the mixed silicone remains fluid enough to pour, manipulate, and work with. Once pot life expires, the silicone transitions from a pourable liquid to a thickening gel, and any attempt to pour it at this stage results in poor mold fill, trapped air, visible pour lines, and compromised surface quality. Pot life is not a gradual decline — the silicone goes from workable to unworkable relatively quickly, making time management one of the most critical skills in the workshop.

What Are Typical Pot Life Ranges?

Different silicone formulations offer different pot life windows, and makers choose their silicone partly based on how much working time they need. Fast-cure formulations may offer as little as 5 to 10 minutes of pot life — suitable for small, simple pours where speed is an advantage. Standard formulations typically provide 15 to 30 minutes, which is enough for most single-color pours with adequate degassing time. Extended pot life formulations stretch to 45 to 90 minutes, designed for complex multi-color pours, large-volume molds, or situations where the maker needs extra time. The tradeoff is straightforward: longer pot life means longer total cure time. A silicone with a 90-minute pot life may take 16 to 24 hours to reach demolding strength, while a 10-minute pot life formulation may be demoldable in 2 hours.

What Happens During the Pot Life Window?

Within the pot life window, the maker must complete a precise sequence of steps. First, the two parts are measured and thoroughly mixed — typically 2 to 4 minutes. Then pigment is added and incorporated — another 1 to 3 minutes. The pigmented silicone goes into the vacuum chamber for degassing — 3 to 8 minutes depending on volume. Finally, the degassed silicone is poured into the production mold, which itself may take 2 to 5 minutes for careful, bubble-free pouring technique. Add these up and a standard pour consumes 8 to 20 minutes of pot life — leaving little margin with a 15-minute formulation. Complex pours like marble effects, split firmness, or multi-layer colors require multiple batches mixed and poured in sequence, making extended pot life formulations essential.

How Does Temperature Affect Pot Life?

Heat shortens pot life. Cold extends it. This is one of the most practically important facts in the workshop. On a hot summer day, a silicone rated for 30 minutes of pot life at 73F may gel in under 20 minutes. Some makers refrigerate their silicone components before mixing to buy extra working time on complex pours. Conversely, working in a cold garage during winter can extend pot life beyond the manufacturer's rating — useful, but it also means much longer cure times. Professional makers maintain climate-controlled workspaces to keep pot life predictable and consistent across every pour. Understanding pot life is understanding the fundamental rhythm of silicone production — and it is one of the reasons every piece from LustMonster reflects careful, unhurried craftsmanship executed within precise chemical timelines.