Why do you put alum on paper before marbling?
Every sheet of paper to be marbled must be coated with alum. It acts as a color binder (or mordant ), fixing the colors to the paper permanently. If alum is not applied to the paper before marbling, most of the color will rinse off.
What is alum used for in fabric dyeing?
Alum - 1 Lb. Used as a mordant in natural dyeing and for preparing fabrics for marbling. Available in 1, 5, and 25 lb. sizes. For natural dyers who prefer, we also now carry Potassium Aluminum Sulfate as well as Aluminum Acetate. Use 1.75 tsp per lb. of fiber for natural dye baths. For marbling see tutorial instructions.
What are the uses of alum?
Uses of Alum 1 purification of drinking water as a chemical flocculant 2 in styptic pencil to stop bleeding from minor cuts 3 the adjuvant in vaccines ( a chemical that enhances the immune response) 4 deodorant "rock" 5 pickling agent to help keep pickles crisp 6 flame retardant 7 the acidic component of some types of baking powder More items...
How do you apply alum to paper?
In this case you should apply the alum by the soaking method: Put one-third cup of alum into one gallon of water (or you can cut this recipe in half). Stir for 2 or 3 minutes, till the alum is dissolved. Pour this mixture into a large marbling tray. Lay a sheet of paper on the surface of this alum water.
What does alum do in marbling?
The alum helps the pigments used in marbling to adhere to the paper. Without a mordant the pigments will slide off the paper. Alum, or Potassium Aluminum Sulfate, is a chemical often used as a food preservative. It is sold in a dry crystal form, and is soluble in water.
How do you use alum for paper marbling?
For Paper Marbling: Dissolve 2 teaspoons/10 grams of Alum in 1 qt/0.95 L of water. Spray or sponge on the solution to lightly coat the paper. Let dry completely before marbling.
What is alum used for in painting?
In gongbi painting, alum water is used to seal the colors between different layer of washes so they will not run into each other. Alum is also widely used as water resistant to create special effects on the raw Xuan paper. Alum as preservative is indispensable in wet mounting to mix with flour to make mounting paste.
What do you add to water for marbling?
0:103:18How to thicken water for EBRU Marbling (turkish style marbling)YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFirst thing you need is carrageenan. Which is a powder. And it's made out of seaweed. And you mixMoreFirst thing you need is carrageenan. Which is a powder. And it's made out of seaweed. And you mix this powder into your water and this helps thicken your water enough.
Is alum necessary for marbling?
Aluminium potassium sulphate (or 'alum') is a mordant used to treat paper prior to marbling. This ingredient is key for making the paint stick! Mix 10g alum with 120 ml freshly boiled water and use a paintbrush or sponge to coat the paper you wish to marble. Apply 15-20 minutes before marbling for best results.
What is the ratio for alum to water?
2:296:03How To Alum Paper for Marbling - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWater. Okay so I we put our 1/3 of a cup of almond powder in this gallon jug and with some nearlyMoreWater. Okay so I we put our 1/3 of a cup of almond powder in this gallon jug and with some nearly boiling water we pour it a little bit about an inch of boiling water at the bottom of our gallon jug
How do you mix alum for marbling?
Mix 1 tablespoon of the powdery alum per one cup of water, and then thoroughly wet the surface of your paper. Lay the paper flat or hang it to dry. After the paper is dry (about one hour), you'll want to iron it—yes, using an actual hot iron to make sure it is as flat as possible for the marbling process.
Is alum the same as aluminum sulfate?
Aluminium sulfate is sometimes called alum or papermaker's alum, however, the name “alum” is more commonly and properly used for any double sulfate salt with the generic formula XAl(SO4)2·12H2O, where X is a monovalent cation such as potassium or ammonium (5).
What color is alum?
Colorless, whiteAlum-(K)ColorColorless, whiteCrystal habitStalactitic, columnar, granular, massive efflorescences; rare as small octahedral crystalsTwinningRare on {111}CleavageOn {111} indistinct20 more rows
How do you make a marbling solution?
Step Two: Prepare the Marbling Solution In a large bowl or pot (I use a stock pot), measure 2 Tbsp of carrageenan then pour over one gallon of hot tap water. Whisk for 10 minutes, then cover and allow to sit for 8-12 hours. There will be chunks left over after whisking, but they will dissolve on their own as they sit.
Can cornstarch be used for marbling?
I've always wanted to try paper marbling and knew there must be some science involved. So, we gave it a go, and the results were stunning! We tried two methods: one with liquid starch (made from cornstarch) and tempera paint, and another with a marbling kit. Both worked well, but look very different.
Can I use cornstarch to thicken water for marbling?
To start, you will need to create the thickened water base that your paint designs will float on top of. For this, we're going to jump into the kitchen (or wherever you have a stove/heating element set up), to cook up our thickened paint base. The base consists of two ingredients: water and cornstarch.
How do you make a marbling solution?
Step Two: Prepare the Marbling Solution In a large bowl or pot (I use a stock pot), measure 2 Tbsp of carrageenan then pour over one gallon of hot tap water. Whisk for 10 minutes, then cover and allow to sit for 8-12 hours. There will be chunks left over after whisking, but they will dissolve on their own as they sit.
How long can you keep alum water?
Leftover alum-water mixture will also go bad, and can only be used for one or two days. So only mix up as much as you will need each day.
How long does alum water last?
How long will the alum treatment last? An alum treatment can last 10–15 years or even longer, depending on the level of external phosphorus loading to the lake. The less phosphorus that enters the lake from external sources, the more effective the treatment.
How do you make alum mordant paper?
My recommendation: 1.5 teaspoons alum per pint water Some marblers soak their paper in a mordant bath, some apply the alum solution with a natural sponge or a spray bottle; I use a wide foam brush. As each sheet is coated I flip it over and pencil an X on the back.
How to remove alum from fabric?
Empty your mordanting container and fill with fresh water. Rinse your fabric 1-2 times by wafting it through the water to remove excess alum that is not bonded to the fabric.
What is the compound used to mordant fabric?
Remember that alum is the compound most commonly used to mordant both fabric and paper. It bonds readily and permanently to other molecules, creating a link between fiber and marbling pigment. Our aim in mordanting is to evenly apply an alum solution to our fabric before marbling, just enough for a permanent print.
How to get rid of mordant in fabric?
Firstly, choose an absorbent natural fiber or blend for your fabric. Thoroughly wash the fabric to remove any starch, sizing, or dirt from its surface - these will impede both the mordant and marbling from being absorbed.
How much alum is needed for a fabric?
For animal fibers (silk), measure alum equal to 8% of the weight of your dry fabric.
How to weigh fabric before washing?
Using a metric baker’s scale, weigh your dry fabric (this can be done before washing).
Can you wash alum after mordanting?
Failing to rinse your fabric after mordanting can leave it with excess alum sitting on the surface that is not bonded to the fibers . If the un-rinsed fabric dries with any wrinkles, that alum can pool in the creases and give you a streaky print.
Can you mordant fabric before marbling?
I’ve read that alum ‘eats’ or ‘decomposes’ fabric, and it should never be mordanted more than a few days prior to marbling. This is true only if you over-mordant and thus leave your fabric in an acidic state. Following a decent recipe will allow you to mordant fabric months in advance of marbling with no detriment.
What are some uses for alum?
Uses of Alum. Alum has several household and industrial uses. Potassium alum is used most often, although ammonium alum, ferric alum, and soda alum may be used for many of the same purposes. purification of drinking water as a chemical flocculant. in styptic pencil to stop bleeding from minor cuts.
How is alum obtained?
The specific process used to obtain the alum depends on the original mineral. When alum is obtained from alunite, the alunite is calcined. The resulting material is kept moist and exposed to air until it turns to a powder, which is lixiviated with sulfuric acid and hot water.
What is potassium alum?
Potassium Alum: Potassium alum is also known as potash alum or tawas. It is aluminum potassium sulfate. This is the type of alum that you find in the grocery store for pickling and in baking powder. It is also used in leather tanning, as a flocculant in water purification, as an ingredient in aftershave and as a treatment to fireproof textiles.
What is the compound used to grow lavender?
This deep violet compound is used in tanning and can be added to other alum to grow lavender or purple crystals. Selenate Alums: Selenate alums occur when selenium takes the place of sulfur so that instead of a sulfate you get a selenate, (SeO 42- ).
What is the formula for ammonium alum?
It is used in baking powder and as an acidulant in food. Ammonium Alum: Ammonium alum has the formula N 4 Al (SO 4) 2 ·12H 2 O. Ammonium alum is used for many of the same purposes as potassium alum and soda alum. Ammonium alum finds applications in tanning, dyeing textiles, making textiles flame retardant, in the manufacture ...
What is the formula for alum?
Usually, when you hear about alum it is in reference to potassium alum, which is the hydrated form of potassium aluminum sulfate and has the chemical formula KAl (SO 4) 2 ·12H 2 O. However, any of the compounds with the empirical formula AB (SO 4) 2 ·12H 2 O are considered to be an alum.
Is alum a crystal?
Sometimes alum is seen in its crystalline form, although it is most often sold as a powder. Potassium alum is a fine white powder that you can find sold with kitchen spices or pickling ingredients. It is also sold as a large crystal as a "deodorant rock" for underarm use.
What is marbling paint?
Introduction: Marbling Basics. Marbling is the process of floating fabric paints on the surface of a thick cellulose solution (called "size"), somewhat like oil on water. The floating paints are swirled into patterns. Then you capture your design by laying a treated piece of fabric or paper down on top of the paint to transfer the swirls to ...
How to make marbled fabric?
Dissolve 3 TBS of Alum per quart of hot water. Cool to room temperature. Dip the fabric into the alum solution or if necessary, such as for paper, sponge it on very thoroughly. Lay it out flat to air dry, stretched if possible to avoid wrinkles. The fabric must be treated and must be dry before it is marbled. It is best to use the treated pieces within 24 hours. If you can't, then wash out the alum and try again another time. Careful! Too much Alum or too long of exposure weakens the fabric! Weakened fabric can shred when pulled on or even during sewing and washing, and sometimes doesn't become obvious until it has been washed more than once.
How long can you play marbling?
Most of the work in marbling is getting set up, but once you are all set up you can play for hours!
What to use to make swirls?
With all the desired colors of paint on the surface, use your rakes, combs or found items to carefully create swirls and design patterns.
What to use to make chevron designs?
Going back and forth with a toothpick or chopstick will produce chevron patterns.
