How to increase the life of your latex mask

Most people who have made masks for a while will recognize the gradually darkening orange color of unpainted latex masks.

What is actually happening is that the Beta Carotene which is naturally present in the rubber (yes, the same thing in carrots - remember that natural latex rubber comes from a plant) is coming out. When latex is exposed to light it begins to oxidize (rust) and will continue to do so as long as it has direct light exposure. The higher the level of antioxidant present in the rubber, the more resistant it will be to oxidation. For anyone interested in how long their castings will last, check the antioxidant level in the latex. For personal projects I always add in some extra antioxidant. It results in a mask that has vastly improved archival properties. This is a liquid dispersion that is very simple to add. It is also a nice selling point for mask makers to be able offer an archival quality mask or prop to collectors who want to know that their prized mask will still be there over time and not turn to a pile of dust! It is something that mask makers don't generally think about, but antioxidant levels do have an impact the life of the mask. All good mask compounds will have it in there, but some more than others. To add significant archival life to your masks, try adding up to 3% latex antioxidant dispersion to your latex mask compound.

Why do painted masks last longer than unpainted masks?

Rubber casts that are painted will oxidize more slowly as long as some white is included in the paint. Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) is one of the best UV light blockers available. This is in part due to the fact the TiO2 reflects light rather than absorbing it. This is the basic premise in Sunblock that is used for your skin, except that Zinc Oxide, another high whitening agent is used instaead.

Krylon Crystal Clear - Friend to all masks!

Another great UV block is Kryolon Crystal Clear. We have several master, latex models that have been sitting in our studio for over 16 years. Two were sprayed with CC. The other one was not. The surface of the Crystal Clear sprayed models look as though they were made just yerterday. Not a hint of orange or oxidation. The unprotected ones were very orarge and degraded. This is largely due to the UV block/absorbers in the CC. Crystal Clear  applied too heavily, Crystal Clear can crack when the mask is flexed. But for collectors pieces that are going to just sit on a shelf, a light coating of Crystal Clear can help keep a mask looking great for many years to come. It also keeps the colors looking vibrant and unfaded.

How to do you know how much antioxidant is in your latex?

To figure out how much antioxidant is in your latex, you have to talk with the supplier and see if they will reveal the how much is there. They might not always want to say since it gets into proprietary formulation info. One percent of total solids would be average. The avarage mask compound is around 60 solids. Filled can be a little higher. So for 100 grams of latex mask at 60% solids you might see around .6 grams.

However, You can do your own study by cutting pieces of unpainted, dry latex from various brands and mounting them on a flat board. Give each the same light exposure and compare the results. Keep all the conditions the same.

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