Plastics and Art

Caroline BunnellKar-Chan Choong

Crystal Hou

IntroductionArt – no single definition, use of skills

and imagination in creation of aesthetic objects, environment, or experiences that can be shared with others.

Plastics – synthetic polymers, dictionary defines it as “capable of being molded or of receiving form.

Why plastics are used?Capable beyond the capacity other

materials.Give any complex shape.Durable, inexpensive, light in

weight,pleasant to handle, not scratch.ColorEasy to combine with other materials.

Plastics as Art Medium

Decorative ArtArchitectureSculptureArt RestorationModern Paint

Decorative Art Earliest plastics

used: Vulcanite, Parkesine and shellac.

1860s, celluloid created to replace ivory.

1920s, Bakelite & Beetle were used to substitute wood in radio cabinets.

Bakelite- colorful and glossy effect.

Beetle used for kitchen and tableware – chemical stability and lighter color.

Melamine, Nylon and Polythene are used in tableware and laminates.

Polyurethane, ABS, acrylic & PVC are used by designers to create product, clothes & jewelers with foam shape & glossy ‘wet look’.

Nylon

Both Nylon-6,6 and Nylon-6 can be extruded into strong fibers, and can be made into textiles similar to silk and cotton, although the most common and sought after use of nylon in the first 30 years after its discovery was as women hosiery and stockings.

The reason why nylon makes good fibers because of the hydrogen omitted. There is a hydrogen bond attraction between the N-bonded hydrogen atoms on one chain and the C-bonded oxygen atoms on another.

Architecture Not widely used before ,misconception of

plastics, suspicious of longevity. Extensively used now to replace traditional

building materials such as protective coating, insulator, damp proof membrane.

1940s, traditional materials cost increased, plastics were manly used in fencing, wall & ceiling claddings & joinery molding.

In expensive architectural, transparent acrylic or scratch- resistant polycarbonate sheeting are used – can be heat-formed to curve and shape, high resistance to breakage.

Centre Georges Pompidou (1977), Paris The external

escalator tube are formed from clear plastic panels shaped into curves.

IBM Pavilion Designed by Renzo

Piano’s Building Workshop in which the strength of formed polycarbonate is cleverly exploited.

Olympic Game Tent In 1972, Munich. Tension structure

designed by Frei Otto.

Synthetic fabrics made from nylons, polyester or glass fiber coated with PVC or neoprene.

Fuji Pavilion Expo 70 in Osaka. The latter comprise

either single later, air-supported membranes that require a constant input of air to maintain internal pressure, or tubular, ribbed air-inflated structure.

US Pavilion Acylic Panel were

used within the geodesic dome structure designed by R. Buckminster Fuller for the US pavilion at Expo 67, Montreal.

DisadvantagesFlammability and degradation of plastic.Unavoidable environmental concern as

energy used and pollution in manufacturing process.

Advantages of Using Plastics in SculptureVersatility Light weightLow costUses the same tools as in metals, wood

Polyester Resin

Thermoset: hardens when a catalyst is added or heat is applied

Manufactured by network formation crosslinking with the use of polyols

This plastic can degrade by hydrolysis

Polyester Resin Cont.

Made by the Artist before use - Fillers: Color (pigments), texture

(sand, gravel) $39.99 for 1 gal to $129.99 for 5 galOne example of use is in bonded bronze

- Grounded bronze added to polyester mix to give the appearance of cast bronze

                                     

  ”The Thinker”  by Auguste

Rodin

In bonded bronze

 

              

                                                                                                  

Epoxy

Created in a two step process

- step growth polymerization

- the molecular weight is then increased in a curing step, reacted with an anhydride

Epoxy Cont.Thermoset: hardens when a catalyst is

added or heat is appliedHigh chemical and corrosion resistanceBrittle and high moisture absorption $23.99 for 1 qt. to $59.99 for 1 gal.This is another plastic created by the

artist

Epoxy Cont.Used to create form through molding

- a mold is created by clay; epoxy is then applied to mold and then allowed to dry

                       

”Red Sculpture” By

Gerard Bowles

Materials are epoxy and

polyester resins

                   

                                                                                             

Acrylic Poly(methyl-methacrylate)

Also known as Plexiglas ®A Trademark of Rohm & Haas Co

Free-radical Polymerization Thermoplastic, amorphous Resistant to acid and environmental deterioration

Acrylic Cont.Susceptible to thermal degradation by

depolymerization

- chain scission breaks backbone bonds, creates free radicals

Rigid, transparent, and shatter resistantEasy to scratch

                            ”Diver”

By Sophie Gal  

Acrylic                   

                                                                                 

StyrofoamPolystyrene

Created by free radical polymerization Thermoplastic Vulnerable to photooxidative degradation

- ultraviolet radiation is absorbed and cleavage occurs along main chain and phenyl ring, creates carbonyl-group formation

Styrofoam Cont.Creates a brittle and a yellowing of the

plastic 2 Cubic Feet $15.00 to 40 Cubic Feet

$175.00Used in lost form casting

- a foam sculpture is set into a sand mold the sand is packed tightly, then a molten metal is added to the mold

                                                                             

“An Unexpected Surprise”

ByLeRoy Wynne

Lost foam casting in Bronze

                           

                                                                                     

Art RestorationVarnish

- a solution that is made from synthetic or natural resins dissolved in organic solvents, after drying it creates a protective film on the surface.

Natural varnishes tend to yellow and darken with time, while synthetics tend not to yellow as quickly

Art Restoration Cont.They have differing properties in gloss,

durability, flexibility and protectionAcrylic varnishes and paints dry quickly

and acrylic paint cracks less then oil based paint

The use of acrylic varnishes and paints can create problems however

Art Restoration Cont.Acrylic varnishes and paints have a glass

transition temperature at or below room temperature

They will always be in a soft state

- easy to damage

- they collect dirt and dust giving the

work a “dirty appearance”

Art Restoration Cont.Should acrylic varnishes be applied to

acrylic paints?Many artists have insisted their works

remain unvarnished If the varnish ever has to be removed in

the future the solvent used to remove the varnish would harm the painting

Modern Paints

Paint

PIGM ENTa fin e ly d ry po w d erth a t g ive the co lo r

in a p a in ting

M EDIUMa tra nsp a ren cy, f ilm -fo rm ing

co m p o ne nt o n to w h ich the p ig m e nt is ap p lied an d stick to a surfa ce

2 com ponents

Pigment can be considered, as an objective of a painting and medium is a means to an end. In order to serve the pigment well and to preserve the life of a painting, all media have to meet certain requirements. These requirements are follow:

The medium must have enough transparency in itself and not to change the color of the pigment.

The medium should not discolor with age.The medium should protect the pigment by forming a file while the paint go dries.

The film should allow for expansion and contracting of the paint caused by temperature and humidity changes so that the paint will not crack.

The medium should be a strong binder and it should maintain the adhesion for unlimited time.

Natural and Synthetic Binders (Resins) Natural Resins

* Oil and watercolor.

* Used it as interior and exterior house paints by most artists.

Synthetic Resins

* Acrylic and Vinyl.

*Have a number of advantages over natural Resins. (i.e. quick drying time, reduced yellowing with time.)

Synthetic resin become available and have been widely used through out the twentieth century paints. They are…

Nitro-cellulose (Pyroxylin)AlkydPolyvinyl Acetate (PVA)Acrylic

Properties of Nitro-celluloseQuick drying timeResoluble and create a thin layer in

every application at all timeTendency to become brittle therefore,

not recommendable as an outstanding medium for painting

Has serious disadvantage for painting because it decomposes with time

David Alfaro Siqueiros

* Claimed to be the first artist who used it as a painting material.

* Used it as in unconventional way such as; staining, dripping, and pouring fluid paint onto a support.

Jackson Pollock* Dripping paint on the horizontally place canvas.

* His way of painting was different from usual techniques of painting.

Who used Nitro-cellulose and how they used it?

Alkyd Is a polyester; formed by reaction of

polybasic organic, acids and polyhydric alcohols that become an ester linkage.

In 1927, the first oil modified alkyd was introduced into the paint market.

In 1940s, alkyd resin was introduced to the industry and household paint formulation.

The replacement of nitro-cellulose by alkyd house paint was not succeeded; because of longer drying time and only give limited success in the artists’ paint market.

Who used Alkyd and how they used it?

Pablo Picasso was the most famous artist who worked with alkyd in his painting, house painting, and boat painting.

Many artists used house paint rather than artist’s paint because artist’s paint was expensive and often unavailable in market.

Other artists such as Willem de Kooning, Australian artist Sidney Nolan, Peter Blake, and Frank Stella used Alkyd in their career.

Alkyd

Gillian Ayres, Distillation 1959, oil and alkyd house paint on hardboard (1959).

Polyvinyl Acetate (PVA)

In 1930s, PVA first appear in paint market. There are two kinds; solution and emulsion

form of PVA. The solution form PVA gets dry easily by

evaporation of solvent and much faster than alkyd oil paint.

The emulsion forms of PVA are not dissolved in water but dispersed in water.

The major advantage of the emulsion are shorter drying time and water is the main component in emulsions so that it can reduce the amount of organic solvent and strong odor.

A number of artists were used PVA emulsion in their paintings such as Alfred Duca, Bridget Riley and Kenneth Noland.

However, it did not give much success to those artists because of a very limited color range and the introduction of the quality acrylic emulsion to the artists.

PVA Sidney Nolan,

Woman and Billabong, 1957, PVA emulsion on hardboard.

Acrylic

Acrylic becomes widely used in 1930s.Acrylic is the newest painting medium

and has the advantages flexibility & brighter colors.

Acrylic applications are waterproof when dry.

The first acrylic paint was known as Magna and is the best known of the acrylic solution range of paint.

The first artist acrylic emulsion paint was known as Liquitex.

Liquitex did not success in the market because it was thin and runny.

Acrylic emulsion paints are not much different to the PVA emulsion such as “they can be thinned with water when wet, but cannot be re-dissolved in water once dried.”.

The significant feature of acrylic was the ability of reducing wrinkles while the painting was drying.

Acrylic and PVA Kenneth

Noland, Gift 1961-2, acrylic solution and PVA emulsion on canvas.

Acrylic

Helen Frankenthaler, The Bay 1963, acrylic on canvas. The Detroit Institute of Arts.

Conclusion Polymers can be used in many different

applications in art from architecture to paints. Its versatility and properties offer durable and

low cost. They can offer the artist or designer different

avenues for creating and design. With the rapidly expansion of study in

polymers, plastic is potentially used as an alternative material for art with its own unique freedom of expression.

References:1. Beck, James: Art Restoration: the Culture, the Business and the Scandal, W.W. Norton, New York, 1996. 2. Faulkner, Ziegfeld: Art Today, an Introduction to the Fine and Functional Arts, Henry Holt and Company, New York, 1956. 3. Fried, Joel: Polymer Science and Technology, Prentice Hall, New York, 1995. 4. Newman, Thelma R.: Plastics as an Art Form, Chilton Book Company, Philadelphia, 1969.

5. Padovano, Anthony: The Process of Sculpture, Doubleday and Company, Inc., New York, 1981.

6. Smithsonian Center for Material Research and Education. Ed. A.B. N’Gadi. 2001. 24, March 2001. http://www.si.edu/scmre/

7. Williams, Arthur: Sculpture Technique Form Content, Davis Publications, Inc., Massachusetts, 1995.

8. Crook, Jo, Tom Learner, “the impact of MODERN PAINTS”, Watson-Guptill Publication, N.Y, 2000.

9. Woody, Jr. R. O., “Painting with Synthetic Media”, Reinhold Publishing Corporation, N.Y., 1965.