Is water-based or oil-based release agent better for silicone mold flipping

When using liquid silicone molds for mold flipping, we need to use release agents to increase the demolding effect for the convenience of mold opening. Common types of release agents include water-based release agents and oil-based release agents. So, what is the difference between these two types of release agents?

The most obvious difference between water-based release agents and oil-based release agents is that water-based release agents have higher requirements for the temperature of the mold, which requires the moisture inside to evaporate quickly. However, water-based release agents have a better operating environment, lower odor, and less pollution;
 Oil based release agents evaporate quickly and do not require raising the mold temperature to evaporate. However, there are more residues that are relatively difficult to clean and have a strong odor.

Water based release agent means that the internal components of the release agent can completely dissolve in water.
 Oil based release agents generally cannot be diluted with water because the internal components of oil based release agents do not dissolve with water. If water is added, the release agent will float, and oil based release agents will remain on the product, affecting its secondary processing. Oil based release agents need to be mixed with solvents such as dichloromethane, petroleum ether, and gasoline before use.

Oil based release agents have fast release effects, multiple release cycles, can improve product quality, increase product glossiness, and improve production efficiency. They are widely used in industrial auxiliary release production such as plastic, rubber, metal, glass, PU polyurethane, printing, etc.

Water based release agent is applied between the molded product and the mold to form a thin film on its surface, mainly because the product does not adhere to the mold. During the demolding process, it can give the molded product a high appearance and surface appearance, good heat resistance, and easy cleaning without fire or corrosion requirements. Therefore, water-based release agent is widely used in industries such as cultural stone, concrete, gypsum wire, epoxy resin, and various resins.