MOULAGE

AND
CASTING TECHNICS
Compiled by:
Dr. Jun Cariňo Corpuz
RMT.,RN.,MACT.,US-RN.,PH.D.
DOH Certified Drug Analyst
Moulage
- Representation of an impression
made on a soil surface
- Application of a casting material
- A cast in Plaster of Paris or other
similar material of an object or
its impressed outlines on a
surface
Importance of Casting
a. Produce representation of an
object
b. Great value in scientific criminal
investigation
c. Create mold which photography
may not become viable
Casting Materials:
- Any material which can be
changed from a plastic or liquid
state to the solid
Criteria for Casting Materials
a. Must be fluid
b. Must harden rapidly
c. Must not be deformable
d. Must be tough
e. Must be easy to apply
f. Must not adhere to the material
 g. Must have a fine composition
h. Must not injure the impression
i. Must be obtainable
j. Must be cheap

* Always take photograph first

before attempting to make
impressions
Materials Needed in Casting
1. Impressing Materials:
a. Clay - Excellent, no shellac
and talcum powder
b. Soil
c. Sand
d. Snow
e. Dust
2. Casting Materials:
a. Plaster of Paris (CaSO4.10 H20)
- Poor mechanical strength
- Albastone
- Commercially prepared
Drawback:
- Finer details tend to break off
b. Plastic Materials
- Plasticine
- Dental Compositions:
- Stents & Paribar
Drawbacks:
1. Distorts when removed
2. Can not be pressed into finer
details
c. Wood’s Metal(Bi.,Pb.,Sn.,Cd.,)
- For small impressions
- Melting point at 60-70’C
- Gives more accurate &
detailed impressions
Drawbacks:
1. Become coarsely crystalline
2. Lost of impression when
removed
d. Negocoll
- Rubbery, gelatinous material
- Made up of Colloidal Mg soaps
- If hot:
- Thin pasty porridge
- If cold:
- Stiff, jelly
- Casts for parts of human body
(fine details)
e. Hominit
- Resinous material
- Used for making positives
from Negocoll negatives
- Flesh in color
- For external surfaces
f. Celerit
- Used to cast the human body
- Brown color
- For backing and strengthening
the Hominit
 Cast of Human Hand or Face
•Temperature of the negative
material should be below 110’F
(43.3’C)
•Reinforcing materials needed for
large cast
3. Molding Box
- Holds and keeps casting
material from running
4. Reinforcements
- Strips of metals
- Teased ropes
- Bamboo sticks
-
5. Shellac and Alcohol
- Used as separating material
6. Talcum Powder
- Used as separating material
7. Chemicals:
a. NaCl c. Sucrose
b. Borax d. NaHCO3
 Hastening or Retarding
Setting Time
1. Hastening
- Add ½ teaspoon of table salt
2. Retarding
- 1 part solution of borax to 10
parts of water
- Teaspoonful of sugar
3. Hardening
- Saturated solution of
NaHCO3
Soil Impression Casting
with Dental Stone
- Upon locating a 3-
Dimensional Soil
Impression,
photographic
documentation
should be
undertaken prior to
any casting.
A photographic scale
is always used to
provide reference
to size and proper
parallax.
• Use of oblique
lighting with a
flash from
various
directions can
increase
comparitibility
of the
impression.
• After photographic
documentation is
complete, a casting
frame should be
carefully placed
around the
impression
• Add 6 oz. of water
to every pound of
Plaster of Paris.
• Recommends 3
lbs. of Plaster of
Paris for shoe
impressions
• 4 lbs or more for
tire impressions
(dependant upon
total impression
area).
• Thoroughly mix the
dental stone in a
large resealable
plastic bag.
• Immediately after
mixing, carefully
pour the Plaster of
Paris mixture into
the impression.
• Allow the mixture
to slowly spread
from one end to
the other,
completely filling
the casting frame.
• Allow the cast to
cure (dry) for 30-45
minutes.
• An exothermic
reaction will take
place generating
heat within the
cast. During the
curing process the
cast will become
warm to the touch.
• Dependant upon
agency or
laboratory policy
the attached soil
may be left on the
cast until time of
examination. The
attached soil
should be left in
place and only
removed by a
trained examiner.
• Detailed cleaning by
a qualified examiner
can reveal sufficient
uniqueness for
positive
individualization.
Conclusive
comparisons with
known footwear or
tire treads are
possible if proper
casting techniques
have been followed.