Polymer clay - what is it? Self-hardening polymer clay

Today, there are a lot of creative people who have chosen their hobby for clay modeling. Moreover, for them now opened great opportunities, with the advent of the sale of its new species. The material became more elastic, easy to use. But many needleworkers are not yet familiar with it, and they have a natural question: "Polymer clay - what is it?"

FIMO, Kato and others

Polymer clay is an elastic, pleasant material in work. It is produced with different properties: one should be dried in the oven, the other - self-hardening. There are a lot of producers of polymer clay today, these are FIMO, Decoclay, Cernit, Kato and other companies. Having tested different types of product, you can understand the purpose of each of them. From one it is convenient to make large figures, from another type - small details.

The most popular among the craftsmen is FIMO, polymer clay, which meets all the requirements. The company produces FIMO air Light: after drying, the products become light. In addition, it is harmless and environmentally friendly material. In English, the material is called a modelling clay, and we have it - clay, plastic, polymer, polymer clay.

Composition of polymer clay

Each kind of polymer clay consists of a base material and a plasticizer. The basis is polyvinyl chloride or PVC, and plasticizers are phthalates. PVC by its structure is gelatin-like particles, which when heated perfectly absorb phthalates, fatty liquid. The mixture is heated and the gelling process begins: the powder particles swell, tightly seize each other. The result is a substance called "plasticized PVC". Plasticity of the starting material is determined by plasticizers: the more they are, the softer the mass.

The manufacture of polymer clay includes both colored pigments, dyes. The composition may include chalk or talc. The properties of plastic are such that it quickly begins to solidify, enough and 60 degrees Celsius. At work, this complicates the manufacturing process. To slightly inhibit the gelling of the mass, stabilizers are added to it.

Properties of clay

Polymer clay is a plastic mass that resembles plasticine, but with a characteristic odor. When heated in an oven, in a microwave oven or cooking, 130 degrees is sufficient to make the products from it harden. They lose their plasticity, their shape can not be changed anymore. Finished parts are glued together, and then the figure is painted with acrylic paints, covered with varnish. Some types of clay are produced without color pigment. But many manufacturers add to it fluorescent substances for glow in the dark, sequins.

Self-hardening polymer clay does not require heat treatment. The finished product simply dries up in the air. This will take at least 24 hours. But such clay has several differences from baked: its texture is uneven and after drying the product decreases in size, shrinks. This kind of plastic is made from natural materials and is often used to create a larger shape than jewelry. Small sculptures, dolls, toys are made of it. Products can be processed: sawing, drilling.

Baked clay

Baked polymer clay: what is it? This is the complete opposite of the self-hardening composition, it is much more plastic and more like plasticine. Better keeps the shape and does not change it after heat treatment. The color also remains unchanged. If after drying the products of hardening clay become lighter in weight, then from baked - remain heavy. They are firm, dense and not subject to processing. They can only be sanded and varnished.

Producers of baked clay produce it in a wide range of colors, which does not change due to heat treatment. Therefore, finished products do not require painting. A master sculpting of polymer clay can create from it masterpieces, especially in the form of costume jewelry. Of course, because of their qualities baked clay is more expensive than self-hardening. But the choice is always for those who use it in the work. You have to try both kinds and draw your conclusions.

Work with material

As already mentioned above, self-hardening polymer clay does not require any heating and freezes itself in the air. Some species can dry for several hours, and others - for several days. It depends on the manufacturer. Stored such plastic only in a closed form. For this purpose, special containers are produced, but it is also possible to simply pack the clay into a food film or a plastic bag. One of the most popular manufacturers is FIMO. Polymer clay is produced in several types and is in great demand. It:

- FIMO air basic, which is environmentally friendly due to the natural substances included in its composition. Children can work with her.

- Air microwave, which you can even bake in the microwave.

- Air natural - consists of 95% cellulose, is made very durable after drying and is recommended for making figurines and dolls.

- Air light - after drying it loses weight and becomes very light. It produces small hanging objects.

Some moments

If during clay work very quickly dries, then you should try to take a small amount of material. The rest of the plastic should be well packaged in cellophane. To prevent drying, it is necessary to moisten with water the non-tacky details of the work. How is the polymer clay itself stored? The instruction says that it can not be left open. After the factory sealed packaging is opened, the plastic should be wrapped in a film and several plastic bags. In this form it will last longer, but not forever.

Some types of plastics, for example, FIMO air, after drying, decrease in size. All this is because of the water content in it. If the product has changed a lot, then these parts should be stitched.

Color palette

In order for the products to turn out colorful, you need to acquire a few colors of clay. Not necessarily the entire spectrum of the rainbow, just a few basic colors, which when mixed will give the right shades. The main ones are five colors: blue, red, black, white and yellow. Polymer clay for flowers, making plants, buds will require different shades. To create a complete palette, the material is mixed in different proportions:

- to get green - connect the yellow and blue material;

- blue with red - will give a lilac shade;

- red, mixed with yellow - this is orange;

- White and black material - will help make the mass darker or lighter.

The amount of polymer clay of the desired color is mixed immediately, because it is very difficult to repeat the same shade.

Paperclay - a kind of material

This is another producer of clay from the United States. The assortment of goods is also varied. One of the types is Delight. It is an elastic and soft material, which dries up to three days. Everything depends on the thickness of the layers. The weight of the product is reduced to half. The ready-made form can, according to need, process: cutting, hatching. If Paperclay is diluted with water, then it can be used to glue the parts. This type of clay is suitable for making large items.

Creative - this is also necessary in the work of polymer clay. What is it and why is it important? Creative is a material that has excellent properties for making small parts and molds. It can be combined with wood or cardboard without the use of glue. This kind of "polymer" does not cause allergies, has no smell. As a result, it is a durable material that can be polished, cut, processed.

Pearl Paperclay - a material from natural ingredients, non-toxic. It is produced without painting - white color and is intended for use in school projects. Ideal for children's creativity. After drying, the clay hardens and is easily colored with felt-tip pens, paints.

Another competitor is EFA PLAST

Like all producers of polymer clay, Eberhard Faber has developed several types of material. But not only the clay was limited to the company: they sell both tools for work and molds of products. EFA PLAST is the world-famous polymer clay. What is it and what are its features?

Material Classic in its qualities is designed for large products. After it dries and hardens, clay does not crack and does not shrink in size. Recommended for puppet master. But from clay Classic you can do everything - it's a universal material. Available in three colors: bodily, terracotta and white.

Light - almost the same as the Classic: due to the addition of cellulose, this clay has become easier. Soft, elastic, it is perfectly smoothed, well fastened. From it are perfectly made petals of flowers, wings for insects. Available in two shades: white and terracotta.

Compliance with safety regulations

Always follow the safety rules during operation:

- Children can not play with raw material. It is necessary to wash hands after molding.

- Work with clay should be in gloves or wash hands more often.

- For baking, there must be a separate oven that is not used for food. But if it's still a grocery oven, then it should be treated and ventilated.

- When baking is required to withstand the temperature regime: it should not exceed 130 degrees. If the material burns, a very harmful gas will be released, which causes poisoning. From the room should go out and do not go until it is ventilated.

- It is desirable to have a thermometer in the stove. But if it does not, then the door should be slightly opened. If the product is nedopetsya - nothing terrible.

Each master chooses the kind of clay that is suitable for the intended product. Of all the variety provided by manufacturers, you can make a huge range of products: from figurines, dolls to costume jewelry, flowers. We can not even enumerate all the possibilities of this interesting material - polymer clay. It is only necessary to begin, and this activity will be for every major hobby.