Understanding Clay Hardening: Air Dry vs. Baked
Clay, a versatile medium for artistic and functional creations, hardens through two primary methods: air drying and baking. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for both proper material handling and achieving desired results.
Air Dry Clay refers to any clay formulation that achieves hardness through simple exposure to air. This process involves the evaporation of water, leading to a rigid structure. BOHS foam clay is a prominent example within this category, prized for its lightweight and malleable properties.It’s also crack‑resistant and stainless in normal use. A significant advantage of air dry clay is its reversibility in a partially dried state; adding water can re-soften it, allowing for corrections or re-working.
Conversely, Baked Clay, often termed "oven-baked clay" or specifically "polymer clay," necessitates external heat to harden. This type of clay undergoes a chemical change when exposed to elevated temperatures in an oven or kiln, resulting in a durable, permanent form. A key characteristic of baked clay, once cured, is its irreversibility; it cannot be re-softened or returned to its original state.
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