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INTRODUCTION Polymer clays of all brands contain a basis of PVC and one or more of several kinds of liquid Plasticizer to keep it soft until cured. Small amounts of Kaolin or white china clay are added as an opaquing agent to some colors. Others remain more translucent and can be left without pigment, or pigments can be added. Mica is also added in some colors by some brands. Bakelite was extremely popular with designers and had an early form of polymer clay available in kits, but the phenol base of uncured Bakelite was flammable and these were discontinued. Today's clays are non flammable and certified as non-toxic art supplies. FIMO polymer clay was made popular by Maureen "Fifi" Kruse, daughter of a popular German doll designer Kathe Kruse in the early 1940s. The compound was later sold to Eberhardt Faber in the 1960s and they named it after her. Polymer clay's history as an art medium is only decades long, unlike many media that have been around for centuries and have long traditions. This newness means that there is a great deal of innovation by users of polymer clay. Often, ideas are born by borrowing from the traditions of some other materials, such as metalworking (mokume gane), ceramics, glass (millefiore), paper, etc. Polymer clay hardens by Curing at temperatures created in a typical home oven (generally at 265 to 275 °F (129 to 135 °C), for 15 minutes per 1/4" (6 mm) of thickness), and does not shrink or change texture during the process. When properly cured, most clays create items which won't break if dropped or normally stressed. It also comes in liquid form and in permanently flexible solid form. A piece may have additional layers or enhancments added to it, and re-cured with no ill effect. As long as the maximum curing temperature is not exceeded there is no limit to the number of times a piece can be re-cured. Polymer clay is sold in craft, hobby, and art stores, and is used by artists, hobbyists, and children. Leading brands of polymer clay include Premo created for Polyform Products by Marie Segal,an early pioneer in polymer clay, Fimo , Sculpey , Cernit, Formello, Modello and Kato Clay formulated for Van Aken by Donna Kato an early artist for Fimo. Few tools are ''essential'' for use with polymer clay, and these can often be found around the house. A Pasta Machine is often used to create evenly flat sheets, to mix colors, to Condition the clay, and to create patterned sheets. Polymer clay is available in many colors. Special-effect colors such as Translucent , Glow-in-the-dark , Mica -containing "metallics," and "stone" colors are also available. Clays can be mixed together to create new colors, gradient blends, or other effects. Judith Skinner was credited with a technique to use the pasta machine to create a gradient blended sheet of color. This technique is used frequently in many other applications and is one of the early skills developed by hobbyists or artists in the media. Polymer clay can be colored with other media. Paint, ink, colored pencil, chalk, metallic (mica-containing) powder, Metallic Leaf and foil, glitter, and embossing powder can be applied to the surface. The same materials also can be mixed in as inclusions; this is often done with translucent clay. When acrylic paint is cured onto the surface, it forms a permanent bond with the surface. After it has cured, the clay surface can be left as it is, it can be sanded and buffed, or it can be finished with a varnish. USES AND TECHNIQUES Polymer clay can be used in many ways, a number of which have been generalized from other art or craft techniques. Some of the things which can be done with polymer clay include:
Skinner using triangles of clay and a pasta machine. POLYMER CLAY COMPARISON GUIDE Each brand of polymer clay has inherent characteristics that make it most suitable for certain applications. For instance, the more resistant brands hold their shape well in detailed cane work, but they can be more difficult to condition. Some easy-to-condition clays become brittle after baking. Most brands feature a translucent color in their palette – but some brands are more translucent than others, making them more desirable when mixing tiny inclusions (such as glitter) into the clay. Some clays change color after baking, making exact color matching more challenging. • Premo! Sculpey is easy to condition and is also strong and flexible after baking. It has a tendency to become quite soft after repeated manipulation. • Kato Polyclay is both extremely strong and flexible when baked. It’s easy to condition and its color doesn’t change or darken regardless of how many times it’s baked. One of its best features is that it never feels sticky or too soft, even after being worked for long periods of time. • Fimo Classic is more difficult to condition that Kato but is also great for caning. It holds detail well and is very strong after baking, but without much flexibility. • Fimo Soft is easier to condition than the classic variety but it is not as strong and durable after baking. POSSIBLE HEALTH RISKS Many polymer clays may be incorrectly labelled "non-toxic." Use of polymer clays may lead to unsafe levels of exposure to Phthalate plasticizers, especially in children. Exposure may occur through accidental ingestion of residue on hands after use and inhaled fumes during baking. {Link without Title} REFERENCES 1. http://www.mindfully.org/Plastic/Plasticizers/Polymer-Clays-Hazard-VPIRGJul02.htm SEE ALSO • Fimo • Sculpey • Millefiori EXTERNAL LINKS There are many online polymer clay groups open to all and polymer clay Guild s or clubs in the US and in other countries. Information and Message Boards
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