Polymer Neckalaces
Necklaces are formed from polymer micro particles as follow: first, alternate formation of two different polymerizable microdroplets is promoted at a cross-junction; then the micro droplets are polymerized by free radical copolymerization using a photo or thermal initiator. By mixing a functional co monomer in each monomer phase, one obtains two different polymer micro particles bearing on their surface an antagonistic chemical group capable to form a covalent bond by condensation reaction. Then, each reactive bead is individually and alternately confined in a channel in such a way that each micro particle get into contact with two other micro particles.
Finally, the chemical reaction between the reactive groups is promoted resulting in a covalent bond between the micro particles and the formation of the polymer beads necklace. By varying the amount of cross linking agent and the nature of the monomer (styrenic, acrylate), it is possible to adjust some of the physical properties of each beads like viscosity and rheological characteristics.
In this work, it was demonstrated that the use of microfluidic devices allow the synthesis of totally new polymer materials like polymer beads necklaces with a large range of morphologies and properties.
There are so many KINDS of beads, and so many colors, that it really is necessary to have quite a few on hand for a full “pallette”. A designer needs some choices!
You don’t have to own a warehouse…but a few strands here and there will always be useful eventually!
Collections grow along the way and while it may take a while, interesting things eventually find their right “home” in a project.
It takes a lot of looking and digging through to unearth those little treasures and bring together all the needed elements for collage, costume, and jewelry work
This entry was posted on Saturday, August 9th, 2008 at 5:15 am and is filed under Polymer Clay Jewelry. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.