Reply To: Is this what we have been waiting for.

[richardandtracyParticipant @richardandtracy]

The idea could be combined with precious metal clay (PMC). Bronze, copper, silver (sterling & fine) as well as gold have been mixed up with organic binders to form a metal powder loaded clay-like material. This then is first heated in a kiln to burn off the binder (about 350C) & finally heated in charcoal to sinter the metal (about 860-890C for silver & bronze). Densities approaching 97% of the normal metal can be obtained. Shrinkage of approx. 10% occurs during firing.

My wife does quite a bit of jewellery making using this method, modelling the PMC in the same way as plasticine, then sintering into the solid metal. It works, and works quite well. The next stage is to use 3D printers to lay down the PMC instead of doing by hand.

Regards,

Richard.