HISTORY

This plaster is made by calcining gypsum, a process which involves exposing the gypsum to very high temperatures to create calcium sulfate and then grinding it into a fine white powder. When water is added to the powder to make a slurry, the slurry can be molded in a variety of ways, and as it sets, a firm matrix is created, creating a solid shape which is also very smooth. One advantage to plaster of Paris is that there is no volume loss, so casts made with this plaster are true to the size of the mold. History seems to indicate that, despite the name, plaster of Paris was invented by the Egyptians. It was used as an artistic decoration in many Egyptian tombs, and the Greeks picked up the technique, using plaster in their own homes, temples, and works of art. Paris became synonymous with this type of plaster in the 1600s, thanks to a large deposit of gypsum which made it easy to produce plaster of Paris. The substance was also used extensively in fireproofing, giving Parisian homes a distinctive appearance. In art, plaster of Paris can be used to make sculptures, and test molds for bronze and other metal castings. Plaster can also be used to make molds which will be very dependable while withstanding high temperatures. Plaster can also be used as an architectural feature, as for example in the case of plaster moldings mounted on doorways and window frames. As a building material, plaster of Paris can be used to increase the fire resistance of a structure. It is often applied as a coating over other construction materials like metal and wood. Doctors have historically used plaster of Paris to make smooth, hard casts for broken limbs. This material can also be utilized in criminal investigations, with plaster of Paris being used to make molds of footprints, tire treads, and other markings. Because the plaster will not shrink as it dries, it can be used to create a court-admissible cast as well as a reference which can be used in an investigation.

What Is Plaster Of Paris?

1. The term plaster of Paris was first used in the 1700s due to large quarry deposits of gypsum located in Montmartre, a district of Paris, which was a leading center of plaster at the time. Plaster of Paris has become a generic reference that is used to describe any plaster that is a mixture of calcined gypsum (calcium sulfate dihydrate), sand and water. When these ingredients are mixed together and the subsequent paste is allowed to dry, it hardens and forms a tough coating. As tough as plaster of Paris is when dry, it is still soft enough to be sanded and carved.

Early Uses of Plaster of Paris

2. The Giza Collection at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, houses diaries and publications that are dotted with information about the plaster walls and artifacts, still intact and durable, found in the interior ruins of the Great Pyramids. Peter Roger and Stuart Moorey reveal in their book "Ancient Mesopotamian Materials and Industries" that plaster vessels have been found in excavations of Ur (dating around 3000 B.C.E.) and Tel Brak (as early as 6000 B.C.E.) that appear to be designed for carrying dry ingredients. The fire preventive properties of plaster were known and used in Paris in the 17th century, when plaster of Paris was used to coat wooden structures.

Plaster Casts
3. The invention of the plaster bandage can be attributed to an Arabic doctor and is noted in the AlTasrif, an Arabic medical encyclopedia dated from around 1000 C.E. This earlier adaptation of plaster for orthopedic cast making was unknown by European and American doctors. The use of plaster of Paris in the modern medical field began in earnest during the 1800s. By the 1850s bandages were rubbed with a plaster of Paris powder and then dampened and applied around the injury. During the 1970s this type of cast making began to wane. Most of today's orthopedic casts are made of synthetic materials.

History's Famous Plaster

4. Artists use plaster of Paris to create sculpture, make decorative items and as a painting surface. The Greeks and Romans used plaster to create replicas of their more famous artworks. The Egyptians perfected plaster casting methods and used them to make casts of the heads of the dead in order to recreate their likenesses. The use of finely ground gypsum plaster to create decorative molding was popular during the 18th and 19th centuries. Painting in fresco is the process of painting on a thin layer of wet plaster of Paris. A well-known example of fresco work is Michelangleo's ceiling in the Sistine Chapel.

Illegal Uses of Plaster

5. Jack Dempsey wore plaster-soaked bandages wrapped around his hands and inside his gloves during his 1919 fight with Jess Willard, resulting in brutal injuries to Willard, including a broken jaw, broken cheekbone, broken ribs and the loss of several teeth. Plaster of Paris has also been used for the smuggling of drugs. Smugglers mix plaster of Paris with cocaine and sculpt the resulting mixture, creating objects that look like artwork.

1. Whether you're a third-grader making a Plaster of Paris project for school or a middle-aged person making a Plaster of Paris cast, there's plenty of projects to choose among when selecting something to create with this popular casting material. Remember as you prepare for your plaster creation to wear appropriate clothing and cover your workspace with any necessary drop cloths or plastic mats to prevent the plaster from molding to furniture or carpet.

Face Cast
2. Real-life face casts are a popular Plaster of Paris project. When making a face cast, the model must have loose hair tied back and covered with a kerchief or shower cap, and he must apply liberal amounts of petroleum jelly over the entire surface, especially on hairy portions of the face, eyelashes and eyebrows. After sticking straws through each nostril, the creator can smear freshly prepared Plaster of Paris all over the face and leave it on for the recommended amount of time. Take care in removing the cast, as parts could be stuck to skin or facial hair. After the face cast has dried completely, it can be painted to look like a face or a colorful contemporary art design.

Paw Imprint
3. Pet lovers and children enjoy making imprints using one of their pet's paws. Before preparing the plaster, make sure any extra-long furs or tufts of fur near the edge of the paws has been trimmed or moved out of the way so it doesn't stick in the cast. Prepare the plaster on top of a covered surface and gently press one of the paws into the plaster. Remove it and make sure it molded properly. Rinse off any plaster that stuck to the paw.

Family Hands Imprint

4. Make a large plaster creation featuring the hand print of each family member. Pour a generous amount of prepared plaster into a large rectangular mold made of cardboard; you can cut out the edges of a cardboard box if necessary. Make sure each family member is present for quick hand rotation in the plaster mold. Do not let hand prints overlap; leave at least an inch of space between each print. Decorate around the prints using silk flowers, small stones or other small, non-perishable decor.

Personalized Ornaments
5. You can use virtually any small imprint, such as a hand, paw, or cookie cutter, to create a personalized ornament for a friend or loved one. Create a small ornament-shaped mold out of cardboard and cut a length of ribbon to stick in the top of the plaster after it has been poured to serve as the hanger. Draw the letters of the recipient's name or initials at the top or bottom of ornament and include the year, if desired. Decorate the plaster with non-perishable items, such as fake evergreen needles, holly, garland, hard candy, silk flowers or stones.

Plaster of Paris Volcano

6. Erect the base of a Plaster of Paris volcano by covering the plastic bottle in the packing paper and surrounding the edges with excess paper, forming a mountain shape. Tape the strips of cardboard in the shape of a cone around the covered bottle and its base. Dip the paper towels into the plaster and form them around the mold to make the volcano, leaving the top open for the volcano's mouth. Let it dry and decorate the finished product with paint. Stormthecastle.com suggests pouring a mixture of baking soda and water into the bottle and adding vinegar to make your volcano explode.