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WHICH TYPES OF THE POLYMER CLAY IS THE STRONGEST? THE TENSION, COMPRESSION AND FLEXIBILITY TESTS ON ALL TYPES OF POLYMER CLAY Temperature Setting 150ºC ( 302ºF ), Maximum baking temperature for polymer clay Thickness of the clay approx. 4.0 mm diameter and 1.0 mm thick strip, baking time 30 minutes
Changing Color 4.0 mm diameter and 1.0 mm strip
Compression Tests 4.0 mm diameter coil
Flexibility Tests 1.0mm thick strip
Note: All polymer clay are properly condition to remove trap air etc., hard clays are conditioned by using rubber mallet method. 05/03/2008 Conclusion After the above tests, the contender is Cernit Polymer Clay, next Kato Polymer Clay, then Sculpey Studio, Fimo Classic, Sculpey Firm, Fimo Soft, Sculpey Premo, Super Sculpey and Sculpey III. Cernit been the number one in my tests, is a good polymer clay, I liked the effects after baking but, people with high body heat will find it difficult to knead and control the shaping of the clay. Next, Kato is also a good clay when baked at 150º C it is very hard but, conditioning and kneading the clay can be tough, just like old formula Fimo Classic, use my rubber mallet method. Hard clay can be soften beside baby oil, any oil and others, use sculpey elasticlay in a proportion of 10 : 1 for a 2 oz. block 0r 3 oz block. Elasticlay will not affect or change the color of the polymer clay. In these tests, the new formula for Fimo clays are much better than the older clay, although you can bake at 110º C best baking temperature should be 130º C to 140º C if you are baking for more than 30 minutes. During the testing, there are also color changes to some clay, the worst is Super Sculpey and a slight change of color to Sculpey Premo, these clays are best bake between 130º C to 140º C for 30 to 40 minutes but the strengthen will be affected slightly, you will also observed mooning in Super Sculpey. Use a oven thermometer to monitor the temperature, if it spike adjust the temperature control knob. Although Super Sculpey is strong in the tension test, it loose out, because of color changes, compression and flexibility tests. The last of the clay test is Sculpey III, it is the favorite clay that kids loves to play with, unfortunately, it is not strong, it is very disappointing to have the kid's hand works / projects broken into pieces. To resolve the problem, combine Sculpey III with Premo, Fimo, Cernit, superflex, although you can also combine Sculpey III with Sculpey Studio, the latter is a new clay and I will test my samples after 3 to 4 weeks to confirm whether it will retain its strengthen. Test completed on 8th March 2008. As from 27th March 2008, There is no deterioration to the Studio Sculpey
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All types of polymer clay, Kato, Fimo, Sculpey, Studio
and Cernit
Weighing Scale And Mild Steel Wires
A weighing scale polymer clay is stretched to measure
the strengthen.
New Fimo Soft
Testing the new Fimo Soft approximately 4.0 mm diameter
coiled for compression test. The tension test is done with a
weighing scale, measuring the amount of force that will break
a 4.0 mm diameter polymer clay and final test on a 1.0 mm
thick for flexibility of the clay.
The tension test, it will take 14 pounds of force to break
a 4.0 mm diameter New Fimo Soft polymer clay
At 1.0 mm bending it 140 times will not break the strip.
Compression test to the New Fimo Soft is firm and flexible.
At 4.0 mm diameter, doesn't break after 8 compression
Comparing the compression tests between the New Fimo
Soft and Sculpey III, the latter is very brittle.
New Fimo Classic
Test results for the new Fimo Classic, compression test, it is
very firm and flexible. At 4.0 mm diameter coiled, it doesn't
break after 8 compression and final test on new Fimo Classic
at 1.0 mm thick, bending it 140 times will not break the strip.
The tension test, it will take 18 pound of force to break
a 4.0 mm diameter new Fimo Classic polymer clay
Sculpey III
Test results for the Sculpey III, compression test, it is very
brittle, breaks at first compression and testing for flexibility
at 1.0 mm thick, it will takes a single bend to break the strip.
The tension test, it will take 10 pounds of force to break
a 4.0 mm diameter Sculpey III polymer clay
At 1.0 mm bending it single time, break the strips.
Premo Sculpey
Test results for the Premo Sculpey, compression test, it is
very flexible, doesn't break within 8 compression and
testing for flexibility at 1.0 mm thick, bending it 140
times will not break the strip.
The tension test, it will take 18 pound of force to break
a 4.0 mm diameter Premo Sculpey polymer clay.
Sculpey Studio
Test results for the Sculpey Studio, compression test,
it is firm and flexible doesn't break within 8 compression
and testing for flexibility at 1.0 mm thick, bending it 140
times will not break the strip.
The tension test, it will take 21 pounds of force to break
a 4.0 mm diameter Sculpey Studio polymer clay.
Super Sculpey
Test results for the Super Sculpey, compression test,
it is hard and brittle snap into two within a single
compression and testing for flexibility at 1.0 mm thick,
bending it 1 time will break the strip.
Baking Super Sculpey150º C for 30 minutes will changed
the color of the clay to blackish brown. Even though the
color is changed the clay remains firm and strong, painting,
curving and drilling doesn't present a problem. If you do not
like the dark color bake the clay within 130ºC - 140º C,
monitor the baking with a oven thermometer.The tension
will not be as strong as listed in my test.
The tension test, it will take 17 pounds of force to break
a 4.0 mm diameter Super Sculpey polymer clay.
Sculpey Firm
Test results for the Sculpey Firm, compression test, it is
hard and brittle snap into two within a single compression
and testing for flexibility at 1.0 mm thick, bending it 20
times will break the strip.
The tension test, it will take 18 pounds of force to break a
4.0 mm diameter Sculpey Firm polymer clay.
Kato Clay
Test results for the Kato Clay, compression test, it is hard
and flexible doesn't break within 8 compression and
testing for flexibility at 1.0 mm thick, bending it 102
times will break the strip.
The tension test, at 25 pounds of force, doesn't break a
4.0 mm diameter Kato polymer clay.
Cernit Clay
Test results for the Cernit Clay, compression test, it is
firm and flexible doesn't break within 8 compression
and testing for flexibility at 1.0 mm thick, bending it
140 times doesn't break the strip.
The tension test, at almost maximum 25 pounds
of force, doesn't break a 4.0 mm diameter Cernit
polymer clay.
Multiple Tests Samples
Tests were conducted multiple times.
Baking For 30 Minutes In A Convection Oven With The Different Types Of Clay
Temperature Setting 150º C ( 302º F ), 4.0 mm diameter and 1.0 mm thick strip.
Tension Tests
4.0 mm diameter