How does polymer clay fare when in constant contact with skin?
I usually use my polymer clay beads (homemade) for earrings, where they don't have much cntact with skin oils and such. How do they fare on a bracelet, for example? Do the skin oils discolor the polymer clay beads over time? Is there any effect at all?
Polymer clay shouldn't discolor from skin oils. I guess if the clay were exposed to a lot of oil over years, it could collect grime just like any other surface though (but should be cleanable with soap/water or alcohol).
In general, the pigments used in polymer clay are quite stable (except for some of the reds, for example, which can fade with a lot of UV light over time just like red pigments in other things).
If the clay had been coated with a clear finish though, the finish itself could have yellowed from exposure to UV light, and that might show up on white or even translucent clay (as mentioned, the Varathane brand of polyurethane has built-in UV resistance, but Future doesn't and many similar glazes often won't).
The only effects I know of simply from wearing clay would be that the oils from one's skin, and/or just the constant rubbing on a warm surface of any kind, could kind of buff the clay which might give it a bit more sheen than it had. In fact, rubbing clear shoe wax into baked clay then buffing, or just petroleum jelly/etc, will give it a nice sheen.
There are other considerations besides dirt and body oils though.
Very smooth clay surfaces may end up getting tiny scratches over time and need to be rebuffed (even if they've been covered with clear finish).
And clay that's left continually submerged in water over 6 months or more can begin to absorb a tiny bit of water so that the darker colors will appear to have a whitish coating (drying out will fix that).
Also all plastics can become more brittle after long-term exposure to UV light but that can take a long time if the clay was thoroughly cured in the beginning.
(There's more info on this page at my site though on the effects of UV and water on polymer clay if you're interested:
http://glassattic.com/polymer/outdoor_snowglobes_fountains.htm)
HTH,
Diane B.
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