Paper mache
Paper mache or paper mache (also pulp or papier-mâché , from the Italian also Cartapesta ) is a mixture of water, paper fibers and a binder, mostly paste , from which light is stable, relatively large and relatively inexpensive sculptures, sculptures or masks can make . Sometimes other additives such as chalk or clay are added. As a paper macheis sometimes also (but incorrectly) understood as a layered structure of gelatinized paper strips. This is the so-called lamination technique .
For the production, paper torn into pieces is mixed with water and paste to form a viscous pulp. After drying, this paste acquires a certain strength. Paper mache is therefore well suited for modeling, but takes a long time to dry and shrinks a lot.
history
Originally from Asia , paper mache has been known in Europe since the 15th century . Initially, mainly reliefs and crib figures were made. The addition of a high proportion of chalk creates the so-called stone cardboard , which has been used for the manufacture of dolls (paper docks) since the 17th century . It has long been used to make piñatas in Mexico and Latin America . Much of the interior and exterior decoration of Ludwigslust Palace and the Ludwigslust city church was made from paper maché, the "Ludwigsluster Carton", at the end of the 18th century . The luxury goods manufacturer Stobwasser also worked with this material in Berlin and Braunschweig as the basis for its high-quality paintwork. The paper mache was also used in the manufacture of papal tiaras .
In the 19th century, before the invention of Bakelite in 1907, paper mache played a similarly important role as many plastics today, such as the products of the paper mache dynasty Adt show.
properties
Paper mache can be worked on with sandpaper , a sharp knife or a fine saw . Since it is elastic , it cannot be processed with a hammer and chisel . It has a relatively high tensile strength .
It is attacked by certain chemicals ; nitric acid turns it brown and sulfuric acid , which has a hygroscopic effect, turns it black. Hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide solution do not cause any significant change.
Manufacturing
On a laboratory scale, paper mache is made from small-torn newspaper that is soaked in water or poured over with hot water and kneaded well or, better, heated in a steam pot for 10 minutes over 100 ° C. This causes the paper to dissolve and the fibers become free. With the straining or squeezing out of excess water, part of the printing ink is also removed. After cooling, some dry wallpaper paste powder is kneaded in well and the mass is made supple and homogeneous by further kneading. When drying, the mass shrinks due to the high water content, which is a bit annoying when modeling. Therefore, after the first drying, it may have to be reworked with fresh compound. The paper mache mass can be kept in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for a long time, but it molds easily. After a while the glue loses its cohesiveness and has to be added again.
A special form of paper mache is the massive cardboard mass. The aim is to achieve extremely high compression of the paper material during processing. This creates a compact, clay-like mass. This mass can be processed like clay without creating cavities in the sculpture , as would be the case with paper mache. With paper mache, these cavities are usually desired, either for reasons of economy or to reduce weight.
The advantage of the solid cardboard mass is the very high stability and weather resistance due to the complete block-like solidity. However, the production of larger sculptures, such as the processing of clay or plaster , requires a framework (the so-called armature ) in the core of the sculpture, which supports the very heavy mass, especially when it is wet. When drying, the cardboard mass shrinks on the surface in a similar way to paper mache and must be reworked accordingly (by further application or sanding).
Laminating technology
Classroom with Paper Mache Figures (France, ca.1900)
Paper mache tin from the 19th century
Life-size sculpture made of solid cardboard by Herbert Wetterauer
Paper mache figure Albrecht Dürer by Christiane Altzweig
See also
literature
- Gabriele Grünebaum: paper mache. History - objects - recipes . DuMont, Cologne 1993, ISBN 3-7701-2911-3
- Helga Meyer: paper mache. Ideas and techniques for creative design . Haupt, Bern u. a. 1996, ISBN 3-258-05378-2
- Rosette Gault: Paperclay. A new material and its uses . Haupt, Bern u. a. 2002, ISBN 3-258-05890-3
