[Jewelry making - Article 00269] - Re: [Orchid] Vitreous enamel on copper electroplate?

[Karla Maxwell]

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    Angela......Enameling on copper electroplate is one thing and
    enameling on copper plated brass is another. It is quite easy to
    enamel on an item that is completely electroformed of copper. The
    problem is the alloys in the brass, mainly the zinc. The copper
    plating does not really create enough of a barrier to be effective. 

    The zinc has a much lower melting temperature than required to fuse
    the enamels. It will vaporize, causing bubbles in the enamel and can
    discolor the enamel. You can see the bubbles in historical enamel
    pieces [before they realized the problem]. You can also see the
    bubbles in current low priced items when brass is used to keep the
    price down. 

    Historically "guilders" metal has been used for enameling with some
    transparent colors that react strongly [color change] on pure
    copper. The guilders metals has a very small copper/zinc
    ratio....95/5 verses the almost 20% zinc that is found in most brass
    alloys. Guilders metal is very hard to find now days. Thompson
    Enamel still does carry sheet stock though. 

    I once did an experiment on silicone bronze. After applying enamel I
    was surprised with how clean the metal was after pulling it from the
    kiln. I was surprised again when all the enamel fell cleanly away in
    one piece. 

Karla Maxwell.........from not so sunny S. California
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