Clay (industrial plasticine)

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Clay or industrial plasticine is a modelling material which is mainly used by automotive design studios. It was developed as an industrial version of plasticine or hobby clay.

Clay is a modelling material based on wax and typically contains sulfur which gives a characteristic smell to most clays. Often, the styled clay object will be used to create molds from. However, largely because sulfur can interfere with some moldmaking processes, especially if clay surfaces are unsealed surfaces and platinum-cure RTV (room temperature vulcanizing) silicone rubber is used, sulfur-free variants are now available; these are usually much lighter than sulfur-containing clay.

[edit] Design studios

Before a new car model is launched, a long period of finding the right design takes place. Even today, computer models are not sufficient to evaluate the quality of a design. Therefore 1:4 or even 1:1 models are built to get an impression of the final car. These models are created in clay, and usually consist of a wooden or iron frame which is covered with styrofoam. On top of the foam clay is loaded. Modellers then use various tools and slicks to finalise the shape of the car.

[edit] Suppliers

There are three main clay producers which are operating worldwide.

Eberhard Faber from Germany which is also known for FIMO.
Kolb (Franz Kolb Nachfolger, Kolb Technology and Kolb America) the company of the plasticine inventor Franz Kolb.
Chavant which was founded by the French chemist Claude Chavant and is now located in New Jersey.