Top 4 Uses for Alginate, Including Alginate Molding Powder

According to Peter Molan of the University of Waikato, "Alginate is the material that seaweeds use to make their cell wall." Rather than using cellulose, as land plants do, seaweed uses alginate to build itself up in its unique water environment. If you’ve touched seaweed, you’ve noted that it’s hardy and rubbery, almost slimy. This is the alginate, and it is broken down into powder form and used for many purposes, including alginate molding powder for art works.

1. Food

Alginate is a primary additive and thickening agent used by the food industry in many products. Because it absorbs water quickly in its powder form, it is used in diet shakes to refresh the dehydrated ingredients. It thickens the shakes to make them more filling, which, as the diet industry would have you believe, fills you up and helps you lose weight. Alginate is also used to thicken jellies and ice cream, and you’ll find it in many FDA-approved cosmetic applications.

2. Manufacturing

The manufacturing industry also benefits from alginate in various forms. It is used to waterproof and fireproof fabric. It is also used in paper and textile production. Screen-printers use sodium alginate in their dyes, as it is a fantastic thickener of the reactive dyes used on the textile printing. According Wikipedia, it is also "a material for micro-encapsulation." Alginate molding powder is fantastic for casting work, which will be discussed further below.

3. Medicine

The medical industry also has numerous uses for sodium and calcium alginate. When combined with bicarbonate, sodium alginate helps prevent the discomfort of acid reflux disease. Calcium alginate works well in wound care. It not only hastens the wound to heal, it also hurts much less when the bandage is removed. Because of its ability to coagulate, sodium alginate is used to make dental impressions and prosthetics, which is why it’s also ideal for…

4. Sculpting

Casting alginate is one of the safest and most effective ways to cast any part of the body or the entire body. The ancient Egyptians turned life casting into an art form with face casts, and the world hasn’t stopped creating remembrances of influential individuals ever since. President Washington and President Lincoln were two of many U.S. leaders to have their faces cast, and French sculptors created a death mask of Napoleon upon his demise.

Artists throughout the globe use body casting to learn sculpting and to capture the many phases of life and the beauty of the human body. Alginate is an excellent casting material when reduced to its powder form. It is safe when placed on the skin and it solidifies quickly. It is also easier to remove than many other sculpting materials, such as plaster. When looking for art supplies, casting alginate should be on your list to ensure you have plenty of this material for your casts.

You can purchase alginate molding powder online through a quality vendor. One thing to look for is a vendor that has experience in molding supplies. Another thing to consider is working with a retailer that secures its stock through sustainable methods.