Jesmonite
Encyclopedia
Jesmonite is a composite material used in fine arts, crafts, and construction. Jesmonite consists of a gypsum
-based material in an acrylic resin
.
Jesmonite is a versatile material and is used in several different ways. It is typically used for creating sculptures and other three-dimensional works, but can also be used with other materials as a ground for painting. It can also be used as a surface material in building and construction. It is considered an attractive alternative to other resin-based materials, such as polyester
and fiberglass
. It can be used for casting
and laminating. It is considered durable, flame resistant, and resistant to impact. It can be used to fabricate both small and large objects. When mixed, it accepts colored pigments and metal powders. Its surface can be finished to resemble plaster, stone, metal, and wood.
Besides its popularity in sculpture, jesmonite is popular in other areas where casting
and molding are common, such as architectural stone and plasterwork that has a requirement to be very lightweight, taxidermy
, archaeology
, and palaeontology.
Jesmonite is considered a low hazard material. The finished composite emits no toxic fumes. The mixing process requires no harmful solvents. However, the mixing should be performed with rubber gloves, eye protection, and dust mask, and should take place in a well-ventilated area. Cleanup is performed with water.
Gypsum
Gypsum is a very soft sulfate mineral composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate, with the chemical formula CaSO4·2H2O. It is found in alabaster, a decorative stone used in Ancient Egypt. It is the second softest mineral on the Mohs Hardness Scale...
-based material in an acrylic resin
Resin
Resin in the most specific use of the term is a hydrocarbon secretion of many plants, particularly coniferous trees. Resins are valued for their chemical properties and associated uses, such as the production of varnishes, adhesives, and food glazing agents; as an important source of raw materials...
.
Jesmonite is a versatile material and is used in several different ways. It is typically used for creating sculptures and other three-dimensional works, but can also be used with other materials as a ground for painting. It can also be used as a surface material in building and construction. It is considered an attractive alternative to other resin-based materials, such as polyester
Polyester
Polyester is a category of polymers which contain the ester functional group in their main chain. Although there are many polyesters, the term "polyester" as a specific material most commonly refers to polyethylene terephthalate...
and fiberglass
Fiberglass
Glass fiber is a material consisting of numerous extremely fine fibers of glass.Glassmakers throughout history have experimented with glass fibers, but mass manufacture of glass fiber was only made possible with the invention of finer machine tooling...
. It can be used for casting
Casting
In metalworking, casting involves pouring liquid metal into a mold, which contains a hollow cavity of the desired shape, and then allowing it to cool and solidify. The solidified part is also known as a casting, which is ejected or broken out of the mold to complete the process...
and laminating. It is considered durable, flame resistant, and resistant to impact. It can be used to fabricate both small and large objects. When mixed, it accepts colored pigments and metal powders. Its surface can be finished to resemble plaster, stone, metal, and wood.
Besides its popularity in sculpture, jesmonite is popular in other areas where casting
Casting
In metalworking, casting involves pouring liquid metal into a mold, which contains a hollow cavity of the desired shape, and then allowing it to cool and solidify. The solidified part is also known as a casting, which is ejected or broken out of the mold to complete the process...
and molding are common, such as architectural stone and plasterwork that has a requirement to be very lightweight, taxidermy
Taxidermy
Taxidermy is the act of mounting or reproducing dead animals for display or for other sources of study. Taxidermy can be done on all vertebrate species of animals, including mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians...
, archaeology
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
, and palaeontology.
Jesmonite is considered a low hazard material. The finished composite emits no toxic fumes. The mixing process requires no harmful solvents. However, the mixing should be performed with rubber gloves, eye protection, and dust mask, and should take place in a well-ventilated area. Cleanup is performed with water.