[Jewelry making - Article 00430] - Re: [Orchid] Red vitreous enamel on copper

[James Binnion]

========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm  ]========

>     Taking that further, I previously tried a 24K gold plate direct on
>     copper to act as the base for the enamel. Unfortunately it did not
>     work. I believe because the copper is so reactive to other metals
>     that the gold migrated [alloyed] during the firing process. The gold
>     was as thick as logically possible. 

    Gold and copper are virtually the same size on the atomic scale.
    They easily substitute for each other in the crystal matrix so they
    easily diffuse into each other even at room temperature. When plating
    gold over copper if you want the gold to not sink into the copper you
    need a nickel barrier layer to be plated between them. I must say I
    dont know if that would allow the gold plate to work for enameling
    but I have significant doubts that even the nickel barrier would
    allow this to work. 

Jim

James Binnion
jbin AT mokume-gane.com
James Binnion Metal Arts
http://www.mokume-gane.com
360-756-6550
____________________________________________________________________
T h e   O r c h i d   L i s t
Open Electronic Forum for Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Procedures
____________________________________________________________________
Orchid FAQ:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/faq.htm
Orchid Archives:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive
Orchid Galleries:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/gallery.htm
Invite a Friend:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm
____________________________________________________________________
Tips From The Jeweler's Bench - Article Archive
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/tip_sear.htm
The Jeweler's Selected Bibliography List
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books
Buy Orchid Jewelry:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/shop
____________________________________________________________________
-Unsubscribe:
-Email: orchid-request AT ganoksin.com Body=unsubscribe subject=blank
____________________________________________________________________