The HydroSpan 400 product was invented by Industrial Polymers for reducing the size of 3-dimensional objects while maintaining high surface detail. The HydroSpan 400 product is a urethane resin which quickly cures when mixed with ordinary tap water. We recommend using COLD water (ice cold water) to extend the very short working life of this product. You must create a mold of the original object you which to shrink in size and then fill the mold with HydroSpan 400. The HydroSpan 400 will rapidly cure in your mold within minutes. Remove the HydroSpan 400 casting from your mold and place in a low humidity environment to begin the reduction process. You have only 1 to 2 minutes to pour this material into your mold after mixing with COLD water before it cures. The amount of water used in the reaction depends on the amount of reduction you wish to achieve.

The HydroSpan 400 shrinks proportionally as water evaporates out of the cured product. You may use a food dehydrator to speed the shrinkage process or simply leave the casting in a low humidity environment for it to shrink; it produces very accurate reductions of any casting. Most of our experience with this product has been with shrinking objects with a starting size of approximately 6 inches in diameter. Very large castings may be more difficult to shrink because it will take much longer for the water to evaporate from the HydroSpan 400 casting. You must monitor the shrinking process until the desired size is achieved. When the desired reduction size has been achieved you will make your new production mold from the reduced HydroSpan 400 casting. You may use molds made from urethane rubber, silicone rubber, metal or plastic to cast HydroSpan 400. Silicone spray mold release or wax based release agent must be used to prevent sticking of HydroSpan in your mold, except for silicone rubber molds which are naturally releasing.