Plaster of paris starts as a powder and then, when combined with water, quickly dries to form a solid.
Plaster of paris is a very popular base material used to quickly form solids used for sculpting and construction purposes. It may also be called gesso, and comes in a powder form. Plaster of paris is mixed with water to activate its latent hardening properties, and is often used in molds. It can be painted or waxed once it is dry.
Ingredients
Plaster of paris varieties can contain several different ingredients, but the base is made of heat-treated gypsum powder. The gypsum gives it a light gray or white appearance. Sometimes glues are mixed in with the powder to slow down the curing period in which the powder hardens. While plaster of paris is a simple material to use, there are several safety precautions that should be taken when working with the mixture.
Protective Clothing
Those using plaster of paris should always wear protective clothing. If plaster of paris gets on the skin, especially sweaty or wet skin, it can harden or cause irritation. It can also dry in clothes, so users should be careful to wear protective clothing that can be thrown away or reused for the same purpose if necessary. Users also should wear goggles to protect their eyes, since the powder can float in the air and cause eye irritation.
Internal Irritation
Plaster of paris has a high mineral content, and due to its powdered form it can easily be inhaled. Once in the throat and lungs, it can settle down in the tissues and cause irritation and inflammation. To avoid these problems, users should also wear protective masks, especially when using large amounts of plaster of paris.
Heat
When plaster of paris is mixed with water, the heat-treated gypsum begins to react and form bonds with other particles in close proximity. This reaction produces a large amount of heat. Users who expose bare skin to the mixture as it is curing may be in danger of burns. Plaster of paris mixtures should be avoided while they are curing.
Contact With Plaster of Paris
In addition to the danger of burns, plaster of paris also can cause injury if the user continues to mold it after it begins to set. Plaster of paris can harden quickly, and if the user leaves a hand inside the mixture while it hardens, the hand can become trapped and the plaster can easily damage it. The chisels and force used to break open the plaster again also can cause damage to trapped body parts.
Related posts
Plaster of Paris is one of three types of plaster. The other two are lime plaster, made from calcium hydroxide and sand, and cement plaster, a combination of plaster, sand, Portland cement and wat...
Plaster of Paris, an important artistic tool for several mediums, can be used for adding detail in under paintings and for creating sculptures, as well as to add molded designs and texture on fram...
Plaster of Paris parts require varying amounts of curing time.Plaster of Paris parts set very quickly but may take several days to completely cure. There are some things you can do to speed up the...
Egyptians and Greeks used plaster of Paris to create statues.Plaster of Paris results from the calcination of a sedimentary rock called gypsum. The Egyptians and Greeks used gypsum plaster to crea...
Plaster of paris is a material that is commonly used in building and art. It is composed of calcified gypsum. Unlike mortar or cement, plaster of paris never completely hardens when it dries. Its...
