Clay - interesting and diverse in itsproperties of the material, which is formed as a result of the destruction of rocks. Many, when dealing with this plastic substance, think: what does the clay consist of? Let's find out the answer to this question, and also we will understand, than this natural material can be useful to the person.
What is clay, what substance consists of
Clay is a sedimentary rock, fine-grainedits structure. In the dry state, it is often dusty, and if it is moistened, it becomes a ductile and pliable material, taking any shape. When frozen, the clay becomes hard, its shape does not change.
The mineral composition of clay of different types, thoughdifferent, but necessarily contains the substances of the kaolinite and montmorillonite groups or other layered aluminosilicates. Clay can also have carbonate and sand particles among other impurities.
The typical composition of this substance is as follows:
- kaolinite - 47%;
- aluminum oxide - 39%;
- water - 14%.
This is not all the components of clay.Mineral inclusions - halloysite, diasporas, hydrargillite, corundum, monotermite, muscovite and others - are also present in different quantities. The following minerals can pollute clays and kaolins: quartz, dolomite, gypsum, magnetite, pyrite, limonite, marcasite.
Types of clay
What makes up the clay depends largely on the place and method of its formation. Depending on this emit:
one.Sedimentary clay is the result of the transfer of natural weathering products and their deposition in a specific place. They are sea-born at the bottom of the seas and oceans and continental-forming on the mainland. Sea clay, in turn, is divided into:
- shelf;
- lagoon;
- coastal.
2Residual clays are formed in the process of weathering of non-ductile rocks and their transformation into plastic kaolins. The study of such residual deposits may show a smooth transition of clay into the parent rock with a change in height.
Properties of clay
Regardless of what substance the clay consists of and where it was formed, there are characteristic properties that distinguish it from other natural materials.
In dry form, the clay has a dusty structure.If it froze, it crumbles easily. This material quickly gets wet, absorbs water, as a result of which it swells. In this case, the clay acquires water resistance - the ability to not pass the liquid.
The main feature of clay is itsplasticity - the ability to easily acquire any shape. Depending on this ability, clay can be classified into “fat” - which is characterized by increased plasticity, and “lean” - diluted with other substances and gradually losing this property.
Plastic clay is characterized by stickiness andviscosity This property is widely used in construction. Think of a mixture of what is? Clay - an obligatory component of any connecting solution.
Spread on the planet
Clay is a very common material.on Earth, and therefore inexpensive. There are a lot of clay deposits in any locality. On the sea coasts one can see clay dumps, which used to be hard rocks. The banks and the bottom of rivers and lakes are often covered with a layer of clay. If the forest trail or the dirt road has a brown or red tint, then most likely it also consists of residual clay.
When industrial extraction of clay used methodopen cast mining. To get to the deposits of beneficial substances, first remove the top layer of soil, and then remove the minerals. At different depths, clay layers may differ in composition and properties.
Human use of clay
As already mentioned, clay is most often used.in construction. Everyone knows that the usual material for the construction of structures - bricks. What do they consist of? Sand and clay - these are the main components of the dough, which under the influence of high temperatures becomes hard and turns into brick. To prevent a wall of individual blocks from falling apart, a viscous solution is used, which also contains clay.
The mixture of clay and water becomes the raw material forpottery production. Mankind has long since learned how to produce vases, bowls, jugs and other clay containers. They can have different sizes and shapes. Previously, pottery craft was necessary and common, and clay products became the only accessories used in everyday life and very popular goods in the markets.
Clay is widely used in medicine andcosmetology. Those who care about beauty and skin health know about the beneficial effects of certain types of this substance. Clay is used for wraps, masks and lotions. It effectively fights cellulite, gives the skin elasticity, prevents premature aging. For some medical reasons, clay is even applied inside. And for skin diseases, dried and ground into dust material is prescribed in the form of powders. It is important to mention that for such purposes not any clay is used, but only some of its species that have antiseptic and antimicrobial properties.
What is polymer clay
Now the art of pottery is no longercommon hobby, as in the old days, but it becomes popular modeling of polymer clay. Some people believe that polymer clay is a type of ordinary natural clay. Is this judgment true? Let's see what polymer clay is, what it consists of and how it is used by humans.
Polymer clay is a plastic material thatfreezes in air or when exposed to high temperatures. We most often hear about the use of polymer clay in needlework, but in addition it can be used in the manufacture of plastic windows, kitchen utensils, etc.
Polymer clay makes it easy to imitatetexture of other materials, such as wood or stone. From this plastic substance, you can make souvenirs, Christmas tree toys, jewelry, interior decorations, key rings and many other things. Such handicrafts will be an excellent gift, they will be able to be stored for a long time, while not losing an attractive look and original shape.
Polymer clay of what is? Home Cooking Recipe
Needlewomen who are interested in the processmaking such bright souvenirs, probably thinking about how to make polymer clay on their own. This is a very real task. Naturally, the resulting material will not be identical to the factory polymer clay, but with proper manufacturing, its properties will not be inferior.
Required components:
- PVA glue - 1 cup;
- corn starch - 1 cup;
- non-greasy silicone-free hand cream - 1 tablespoon;
- Vaseline - 1 tablespoon;
- lemon juice - 2 tablespoons.
That's all that makes up the clay for modeling, which we will prepare at home.
Starch, glue and petroleum jelly are thoroughly mixed,add lemon juice and mix again until smooth. We put in the microwave for 30 seconds, mix and send there for another 30 seconds. The crust, which was formed on the surface, should be removed and discarded, and the elastic mass should be laid out on a tray, smeared with hand cream, and vigorously stirred for 5 minutes. After cooling, our polymer clay is ready for use.
Having learned how to make polymer clay on your own, you can save on expensive purchased material and, without limiting yourself, learn an interesting, creative activity.
Clay - interesting and diverse in itsproperties of the material, which is formed as a result of the destruction of rocks. Many, when dealing with this plastic substance, think: what does the clay consist of? Let's find out the answer to this question, and also we will understand, than this natural material can be useful to the person.
