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 Enamelware - com is mainly about enamel related products but is also about the enamel process. Enamel charms, enamel lapel pins, cloisonne, enamel cufflinks, enameling, Chinese enamelware, enamel cookware...
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Enameling goes back a along way, there are many different methods of enameling, how the technique is done and also what it is used for.
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Enameling:
Vitreous enamel is glass bonded by fusion to a metal surface. The most common glass is said to be a fusion of silica, soda, lime, and a small amount of borax. Though normally transparent, various amounts of opacity can be produced by adding or growing crystals within the glass structure. A wide range of colours are said to be produced when enameling, this can be done by incorporating certain elements, these are mostly transition metals.
The physical properties of glass can be controlled to permit bonding to most metals such as: gold, platinum, silver, copper, steel, cast iron, aluminum and titanium.
How enamel is created when enameling:
Enamel (glass) is crushed to a powder that is roughly finer than granulated sugar and coarser than flour. This powder is applied by one of several methods to the metal surface. Next, the article is heated to 1000-1600F, either in a preheated furnace, or with a hand-held torch.
After 1-1/2 to 10 minutes, the article is removed and allowed to cool to room temperature. Subsequent coats, normally different colors, are applied. Sometimes 10-20 firings are required to bring about the desired results.
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The most relevant links we could find, placed here free
 Enamelist.com
- Enameling information and designs. www.enamelist.com
Ricky Frank Enamels
- Enamel designs and product information. www.rickyfrank.com
Enameling History:
The Greeks were said to be using enamel on gold jewelry as early as the 5th century B.C. Caesar claimed to find that the Celtic inhabitants of Britain were enameling in the 1st century B.C.
During the Byzantine era, 4th through 12th centuries, numerous enamel religious works were apparently made. Fifteenth century artisans in Limoges, France, claim to have perfected the use of enameling in a painting technique.
The 17th, 18th and 19th centuries and the early decades of the 20th century saw the production of a great volume of what people say are luxury and decorative enamels. Since the last third of the 19th century, both Japan and China have exported an abundance of enamel as Cloisonne which became the name of the technique.
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Site written by Dan Gillick