Clear Casting Resin
Clear Casting Resin is one of the resins often used for resin jewelry making. Resin is a liquid plastic which solidifies after a chemical exothermic reaction. That means that heat is generated when the hardener (sometimes erroneously called a catalyst) is mixed with the base resin. The heat causes the polymers to link (polymerization) which forms the plastic. These are usually divided into several categories: epoxy resin, polyurethane casting resin and polyester casting resin. This resin is a rigid, high impact transparent polyurethane casting resin used whenever a hard, non-yellowing product is required that only sounds dull; it can be used in many exciting and beautiful ways.
Characteristics
A polyurethane casting system which consists of two parts, is comprised of resin and hardener. With a 1:1 by volume mixing ratio,it cures at room temperature, is UV-resistant and doesn’t yellow. ResinObsession's SuperClear resin is a 2 to 1 mix ratio.
The characteristics that most often make a glossy transparent casting resin the product of choice are its high gloss finish, optical clarity, mechanical strength, hydrolysis resistance, and its yellowing resistance. In addition to considering this resin’s strong points, you must also bear in mind the conditions under which the parts created will be used or subjected to.
Applications
The water-like translucency of casting resin makes it ideal for water reproductions in railroad and gaming scenery, lenses, and sparkling resin jewelry embedded with items as whimsical as dragonflies in amber, or as sentimental as an engagement photo encased in the seemingly liquid water for posterity.
Clear or tinted, Clear Casting Resin looks like glass and can be used to simulate stained glass windows, as well as used in a jewelry bezel to preserve pictures or other small collage pieces. It is often used to embed objects to make stylized one-of-a-kind jewelry such as glitter, dried flowers, and charms, and can be layered with other elements to create a 3-dimensional effect.
Color tints can be used to transform the liquid-looking transparent resin from clear all the way to opaque allowing you to create nearly any look you can imagine, from gem-like clarity to cloisonné-like opacity. Some artists even apply tinted resin to metal just like paint.
Though in the past, resin jewelry has often been linked to tawdry, poor quality mass productions, that is far from the case today. Artists and designers often incorporate Clear Casting Resin into their jewelry designs that they sell to galleries and high end stores. Why? Because resin jewelry has a wide range of appeal: it can be colorful, whimsical, transparent, opaque or a swirling mass of color that can evoke a wide spectrum of emotions. Resin lends itself to being used in many mixed media pieces, and is easily personalized for a one-of-a-kind look.
Though vacuum or pressure is recommended for totally bubble-free castings, you can achieve a good result with minimal bubbles by slowly mixing and pouring the resin into your molds. ResinObsession's SuperClear resin does not need to be vacuumed or pressure cast to produce a bubble free casting.
If you are looking to create a unique piece of wearable resin art made with Clear Casting Resin, ResinObsession surely carries the supplies you need and Cindy, the ResinLady will be pleased to answer any questions you may have.
