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Materials
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Dichroic Glass
The brilliant dichroic optical properties of Malinalli Art Jewelry are the result of multiple micro-layers of metal oxides. These thin layers of oxides have a total thickness of three to five millionths of an inch. Different metals produce different colors, textures, and properties. Extremely thin layers of metals such as gold, silver, titanium, chromium, aluminium, zirconium, magnesioum, are applied to the surface of the glass in a vacuum chamber.
Originally, NASA developed dichroic glass for use in satellite mirrors. Certain wavelengths of light will either pass through the dichroic glass or be reflected, causing an array of color to be visible. Due to variations in the firing process, individual results can never exactly be reproduced. Each piece of fused dichroic glass is unique without any two ever being identical. Adapted from Wikipedia
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The Kiln
At the heart of the fused glass process is the Kiln. First, glass is meticulously cut to compliment the planned design of the piece to be created. Often, a single piece of jewelry has 3 or more firings in order to achieve unique effects in the glass. Some glass plates and bowls have up to 5 firings. All firings are calculated to achieve the creative effect desired: a perfectly polished surface, a new bubble in the glass to add interest, or an additional dimension of color or texture in the glass to make a unique statement.
The glass pieces are fired in a kiln in which temperature is controlled to the exact degree with different holding times at different temperatures to bring the desired qualities to the fired glass.
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