Like mineral clay, poly clay is made by adding liquid to dry particles until they become gel-like before baking them in an oven to solidify, which is why it’s commonly referred to as clay. PVC is mainly used for manufacturing art and craft products, but it is also employed in commercial applications to create ornamental pieces. Polymer clay artwork is currently on display at some of the world’s most renowned institutions.
This hardenable modelling clay uses polymer polyvinyl chloride as a basis called polymer clay (PVC).
HOW SHOULD CLAY BE STORED?
Store clay in its original container and keep it away from heat and sunshine while not in use. Avoid leaving it in your car if it’s is hot out. If you want to keep it fresh, it’s preferable to store it in an airtight container coated with wax paper. Do not keep it in Tupperware or other food storage containers.
POLYMER CLAY: IS IT PAINTABLE?
Painting using water-based acrylics in multiple, thin coats is advised for all clay. You may use any paint if you seal it with a few coats of Sculpey.
USES
PVC may be worked until it is thoroughly dried. It takes 15 minutes for each 14 inch of thickness to cure at temperatures between 265 degrees Fahrenheit (129 degrees Celsius) and 135 degrees Celsius. While still higher than that of mineral clays, this temperature may be attained in the comfort of one’s kitchen using an oven. Cured clay from reputable manufacturers shrinks relatively little. Cernit, Oytra, Fimo, Kato Polyclay, Sculpey, PVClay Brasil, and Crafty Argentina are a few of the many poly clay brands available.
The multipurpose nature of a pasta-making machine makes it a popular choice among poly clay artisans. As a clay conditioner, it is used to condition the clay and make sheets of consistent thickness, blend colours, and variegated sheets. Conditioning PVC is usually necessary before using it. To break up resin particle adhesions, one can knead the clay by hand or pass it between two rollers.
It is possible to utilise oven-hardenable PVC plastisol, “liquid PVC,” as an adhesive to join pieces together or produce various effects using polymer clay. To produce colourful liquid clay, the person may mix synthetic clay, pigments, and chalk pastels. The person can alternatively pour the liquid into moulds to make cast pieces.
Advantages
No need to worry about it dripping or getting mouldy!
Work on a natural clay project? Have you ever observed that it grew more crumbly and less receptive to tooling when the clay dried out? Regular wetting is necessary to maintain the workability of natural clay, as you may have seen.
You may have worked with a type of air-dry clay with a limited shelf life. Over time, it becomes more difficult and less flexible to deal with, and if you aren’t expeditious about working with it, it might become too difficult to work with too quickly.
PVC prevents this. After opening, it will not dry out due to the unique combination of synthetic polymers. In other words, if you’re the kind who loves to work for a while and then take breaks, you’re free to craft whenever you want and come back to your project whenever you’re ready.
When you take it back up where you left off, your clay won’t have solidified in the interim!
Because our synthetic clay repels dust, it remains new and sparkling for a more extended period.
When leaving clay creations out while you take a vacation from working on them, one should consider more than only the fact that they won’t solidify. It’s time for further dialogue.
