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Ed McCormick
Joined:
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21-Mar-2004
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Started On : 25-May-2009 at 12:35:43 PM, #Views : 5914
Topic Subject : Re: Mixing Alginate: |
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Thanks for your posting. It reminds us that it is time again to remind alginate user’s of their responsibility when mixing alginate.
As a manufacturer, we can control the quality of the alginate formulation. Ours is twice tested before packaging. Other manufactures certainly put their formulas through similar quality checks.
However, as with most molding materials there are two parts to each. When those two parts are combined, a reaction takes place that causes the combination to solidify. For alginate the second part of course is the water. The quality of which varies throughout the country – it even varies from day to day through public water systems. It is especially concerning when drawn from wells where quality isn’t monitored at all.
Alginate formulas of most manufacturers are tested using deionized water to remove any doubt of extra additives.
So when I speak of water quality, I’m referring to the mineral content of your water. The lumps caused while mixing alginate are most often caused by excessive minerals in your water such as calcium, magnesium and certain potassium salts. So if in testing your batch of alginate, you discover a lumpy – or worse oatmeal-like mix, I can assure that it not from the powder formula of any manufacturer. It is from the excessive mineral content the water you are using to mix the alginate.
We do demonstrations all of over the country and the first thing we do when we arrive is to mix a small batch of alginate with the local water. Lumpy mixes are a problem in about 80% of the locations we have tested.
Therefore, we switch to bottled water – or better yet deinonized water available at the local supermarket.
As David pointed out you did not supply all the information needed to analyze your specific problem. However, it is often the water issue. So try that first.
Be sure to follow through with Dave Parvin though, as he always has excellent suggestions on preparation and application. Also Dave is an ALI Certified Instructor and can provide you with assistance.
Ed McCormick
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