Release agent

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The neutrality of this article is disputed.
Please see the discussion on the talk page.(April 2008)
Please do not remove this message until the dispute is resolved.

This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims.
Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details. (April 2008)

This article does not cite any references or sources. (June 2008)
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

A release agent, also known as a de-moulding agent, "form oil", parting agent or form releaser, is a substance used in moulding and casting that aids in the separation of a mould from the material being moulded and reduces imperfections in the moulded surface. Substances used to aid in the separation of food from a cooking container after baking or roasting, such as fat or flour, can also be considered release agents.

In the concrete construction industry, form release agents prevent the adhesion of freshly placed concrete to the forming surface, usually plywood, overlaid plywood, steel or aluminum. In this application, there are two types of release agents available: barrier and reactive. Barrier release agents prevent adhesion by the development of a physical film or barrier between the forming surface and the concrete. Reactive release agents are chemically active and work by the process of a chemical reaction between the release agent and the free limes available in fresh concrete. A soapy film is created which prevents adhesion. Because it is a chemically reactive process, there is generally little to no residue or unreacted product left on the forming surface or concrete which provides for a cleaner process.

Chemically reactive form release agents were first developed in 1956 in the United States by Carl Linn. A number of chemical manufacturers have also developed chemically active form release agents and it is now possible to find formulations designed specifically for certain performance requirements or forming surfaces.