Research and Development Project on the Domestic Raw Materials of Enamel for Jewelry Production

Abstract

The project aims to produce quality enamel colors from locally available materials in order to reduce costs. In the course of the research, information is collected on imported enamel colors and a study is carried out on chemical compositions and quality of the colors. At the same time, there is a study on local materials which can potentially be used to produce enamel colors, starting from basic colors such as red, blue and green. The study has found that the imported enamel colors qualify as lead glass because it contains 23-28% of lead. The study has also found that red enamel (transparent) blue enamel (transparent), blue enamel (opaque), green enamel (transparent), and green enamel (opaque) have similar level of density and hardness. Red enamel (opaque) has lower level of density and hardness due to its porosity which can be observed with naked eyes. The COE level is similar for all of the tested colors because their chemical compositions are similar. The study produces quality blue and green enamel at much lower cost. Colors of the enamel are achieved by adding different metal oxide. The color blue (translucent and opaque) is from adding cobalt (Co). Chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), cobalt and copper (Cu) together produces translucent dark green, while chromium and copper (without cobalt) produces opaque as lighter green. However, it has not been able to produce red enamel yet but has requested for samples from another research project “Developing New Technology to Produce Jewelry from Synthesized Red Crystal” for further study.Keywords: Enamel; Jewelry; Glass; Local Raw Materials