How to Make Plaster of Paris

Tap to Read ➤ Mamta Mule

Plaster of Paris has numerous applications in arts, medicine, household decoration, etc. It is also a favorite material used by kids for craft work and school projects. Here is how to make it.

Plaster of Paris, also known as gypsum plaster, is widely used by artists for making sculptures, masks, and various three-dimensional arts and crafts projects. It is the best material for making molds and castings. It is very commonly used for medicinal and architectural purposes too.

Moreover, molds of footprints and other markings used as crucial evidence in forensic science are made by using plaster. Gypsum plaster is available in stores in the form of powder or bandages, wherein you just require water to make it ready to use.

History of Plaster of Paris

The earliest traces of plaster were found in Anatolia and Syria, and they were dated as 9,000 years old. Nearly 5,000 years back, the Egyptians prepared a joining material by burning gypsum in open-air fire, then crushing it, and mixing it with water.

This was used as a building material for building the blocks of monuments, like the world famous and magnificent Egyptian pyramids. Gypsum is a sedimentary rock, and the evaporation of sea water trapped in lagoons leads to its formation. it is calcined into plaster.

There are several processes for doing this. Selection of gypsum and the preparation methods are the primary factors that result into production of the best plaster.

Making Gypsum Plaster with White Flour

Things you will need Warm water White flour Plastic bowl Spatula

Procedure Take one to two cups of warm water and two to three cups of white flour. Mix it to form a paste. Move this paste into a plastic bowl.

Keep stirring the paste till you have a smooth mixture with no visible lumps. Remember to keep the consistency of the paste smooth and thick, but also easy to stir.

Making Gypsum Plaster with White Glue

Things you will need Warm water White glue Plastic bowl Spatula

Procedure Take one part warm water and two parts white glue. Blend both the ingredients thoroughly. Move the paste formed after blending process into a plastic bowl. Add water to this paste and stir it continuously while doing so.

Water should be added till you have a soupy mixture. Make sure the mixture is watery but has a little gluey consistency as well. The product of this recipe may require some extra time to dry than the previous one.

All the supplies needed for preparing plaster of Paris are easily available. Also, the preparation takes only a few minutes.